N-1A 1 charlottefunds485a.htm CHARLOTTE FUNDS N1A charlottefunds485a.htm - Generated by SEC Publisher for SEC Filing

                                                 SECURITIES AND EXCHANGE COMMISSION

Washington, D.C. 20549

                                                                Form N-1A                                            
 
REGISTRATION STATEMENT (NO. XXX)  
UNDER THE SECURITIES ACT OF 1933 [X]
Pre-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
Post-Effective Amendment No. [ ]
and  
REGISTRATION STATEMENT UNDER THE INVESTMENT COMPANY ACT OF 1940 [X]
Amendment No. [ ]

 

VANGUARD CHARLOTTE FUNDS

(Exact Name of Registrant as Specified in Declaration of Trust)

P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482

(Address of Principal Executive Office)

Registrant’s Telephone Number (610) 669-1000

Heidi Stam, Esquire

P.O. Box 876

Valley Forge, PA 19482

Approximate Date of Proposed Public Offering: January 17, 2012

Registrant hereby amends this Registration Statement on such date or dates as may be
necessary to delay its effective date until the Registrant shall file a further amendment
which specifically states that this Registration Statement shall thereafter become
effective in accordance with Section 8(a) of the Securities Act of 1933 or until the
Registration Statement shall become effective on such date as the Commission, acting
pursuant to Section 8(a) may determine.


 



 

Contents      
 
 
Vanguard Fund Summaries   Investing With Vanguard 26
Total International Bond Index Fund 1 Purchasing Shares 26
Emerging Markets Government Bond      
Index Fund 5 Converting Shares 29
Investing in Index Funds 9 Redeeming Shares 31
More on the Funds 10 Exchanging Shares 35
The Funds and Vanguard 20 Frequent-Trading Policy 35
Investment Advisor 21 Other Rules You Should Know 37
Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes 22 Fund and Account Updates 42
Share Price 24 Contacting Vanguard 44
    Additional Information 45
    Glossary of Investment Terms 46

 


 

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of investment-grade bonds issued outside of the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees        
(Fees paid directly from your investment)        
  Investor Shares   Admiral Shares  
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases None   None  
Purchase Fee 0.25 % 0.25 %
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None   None  
Redemption Fee (on shares held less than two months) 2 % 2 %
Account Service Fee (for fund account balances below $10,000) $20 /year $20 /year
 
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses        
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)      
  Investor Shares   Admiral Shares  
Management Expenses 0.XX % 0.XX %
12b-1 Distribution Fee None   None  
Other Expenses 0.XX % 0.XX %
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.40 % 0.30 %

 

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Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund’s Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. These examples assume that the Shares provide a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

    1 Year   3 Years
Investor Shares                                       $ 41   $ 128
Admiral Shares $ 31   $ 97

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund has no operating history and therefore has no portfolio turnover information.

Primary Investment Strategies

The Fund employs a “passive management”—or indexing—investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate ex-USD Float-Adjusted Index (Hedged). This Index represents the universe of global non-U.S. dollar-denominated government, government agency, corporate, and securitized investment-grade fixed-income investments, all with maturities of more than one year.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds securities that, in the aggregate, approximate the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 5 and 10 years.

Primary Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range, like the fluctuations of the overall bond market. The Fund’s performance could be hurt by:

Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Fund because it invests primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of long-term bonds.

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Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. Income risk is generally moderate for intermediate-term bond funds, so investors should expect the Fund’s monthly income to fluctuate accordingly.

Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Credit risk should be low for the Fund because it purchases only bonds that are of investment-grade quality.

Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupons or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond’s call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk. Call/prepayment risk should be low for the Fund because it invests only a small portion of its assets in callable bonds and mortgage-backed securities.

Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low.

Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign companies, governments, or government agencies. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign companies, governments, or government agencies located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk for the Fund is moderate.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

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Annual Total Returns

The Fund began operations on •, 2012, so performance information is not yet available.

Investment Advisor
The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Portfolio Managers

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The following table provides the Fund’s minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Account Minimums   Investor Shares   Admiral Shares
To open and maintain an account $ 3,000 $ 10,000
To add to an existing account   $100 (other than by Automatic   $100 (other than by Automatic
    Investment Plan, which   Investment Plan, which
    has no established minimum)   has no established minimum)

 

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. Distributions are taxable to you for federal income tax purposes, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares. A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event, which means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return. Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may also be subject to state and local income taxes.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

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Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by governments of emerging market countries.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Investor Shares or Admiral Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees        
(Fees paid directly from your investment)        
  Investor Shares   Admiral Shares  
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases None   None  
Purchase Fee 0.75 % 0.75 %
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None   None  
Redemption Fee (on shares held less than two months) 2 % 2 %
Account Service Fee (for fund account balances below $10,000) $20 /year $20 /year
 
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses        
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)      
  Investor Shares   Admiral Shares  
Management Expenses 0 .xx% 0 .xx%
12b-1 Distribution Fee None   None  
Other Expenses 0 .xx% 0 .xx%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.50 % 0.35 %

 

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Examples

The following examples are intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund’s Investor Shares or Admiral Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. They illustrate the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. These examples assume that the Shares provide a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

    1 Year              3 Years
Investor Shares $51   $160
Admiral Shares $36   $113

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund has no operating history and therefore has no portfolio turnover information.

Primary Investment Strategies

The Fund employs a “passive management”—or indexing—investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital Emerging Markets Sovereign Index (USD). This Index includes U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds that have maturities longer than one year.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 10 and 15 years.

Primary Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range, like the fluctuations of the overall bond market. The Fund’s performance could be hurt by:

Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Fund because it invests primarily in intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of long-term bonds.

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Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. Income risk should be moderate for the Fund, so investors should expect the Fund’s monthly income to fluctuate accordingly.

Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Credit risk should be moderate for the Fund because it purchases investment-grade and high-yield bonds.

Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low.

Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the bonds of governments located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the bonds of governments located in more developed foreign markets.

Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign governments. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign governments located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

7


 

Annual Total Returns

The Fund began operations on •, 2012, so performance information is not yet available.

Investment Advisor
The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Portfolio Managers

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The following table provides the Fund’s minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Account Minimums   Investor Shares   Admiral Shares
To open and maintain an account $ 3,000 $ 10,000
To add to an existing account   $100 (other than by Automatic   $100 (other than by Automatic
    Investment Plan, which   Investment Plan, which
    has no established minimum)   has no established minimum)

 

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. Distributions are taxable to you for federal income tax purposes, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares. A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event, which means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return. Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may also be subject to state and local income taxes.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

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Investing in Index Funds

What Is Indexing?

Indexing is an investment strategy for tracking the performance of a specified market benchmark, or “index.” An index is an unmanaged group of securities whose overall performance is used as a standard to measure the investment performance of a particular market. There are many types of indexes. Some represent entire markets—such as the U.S. stock market or the U.S. bond market. Other indexes cover market segments—such as small-capitalization stocks or short-term bonds.

An index fund holds all, or a representative sample, of the securities that make up its target index. Index funds attempt to mirror the performance of the target index, for better or worse. However, an index fund generally does not perform exactly like its target index. For example, like all mutual funds, index funds have operating expenses and transaction costs. Market indexes do not, and therefore will usually have a slight performance advantage over funds that track them.

Index funds typically have the following characteristics:

Variety of investments. Most Vanguard index funds generally invest in the securities of a wide variety of companies and industries.

Relative performance consistency. Because they seek to track market benchmarks, index funds usually do not perform dramatically better or worse than their benchmarks.

Low cost. Index funds are inexpensive to run compared with actively managed funds. They have low or no research costs and typically keep trading activity—and thus dealer markups and other transaction costs—to a minimum.

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More on the Funds

This prospectus describes the primary risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main axioms of investing: The higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: The lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether a Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Share Class Overview

This prospectus offers the Funds’ Investor Shares and Admiral Shares. A separate prospectus offers the Funds’ Institutional Shares, which are generally for investors who invest a minimum of $5 million. In addition, each Fund issues an exchange-traded class of shares (ETF Shares), which are also offered through a separate prospectus.

All share classes offered by a Fund have the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. However, different share classes have different expenses; as a result, their investment performances will differ.

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing
 
Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That’s because
you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund,
plus any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These
costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital
appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can,
over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund’s performance.

 

The following sections explain the primary investment strategies and policies that each Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund’s board of trustees, which oversees the Fund’s management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Each Fund’s policy of investing at least 80% of its assets in securities that are held in its target index may be changed only upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders. Note that each Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote.

10


 

Market Exposure


Each Fund is subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Funds because they invest primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than the prices of long-term bonds.

Although bonds are often thought to be less risky than stocks, there have been periods when bond prices have fallen significantly because of rising interest rates. For instance, prices of long-term bonds fell by almost 48% between December 1976 and September 1981.

To illustrate the relationship between bond prices and interest rates, the following table shows the effect of a 1% and a 2% change (both up and down) in interest rates on the values of three noncallable bonds of different maturities, each with a face value of $1,000.

How Interest Rate Changes Affect the Value of a $1,000 Bond1        
    After a 1%   After a 1%   After a 2%   After a 2%
Type of Bond (Maturity)   Increase   Decrease   Increase   Decrease
Short-Term (2.5 years) $ 977 $ 1,024 $ 954 $ 1,049
Intermediate-Term (10 years)   922   1,086   851   1,180
Long-Term (20 years)   874   1,150   769   1,328
1 Assuming a 4% coupon.                

 

These figures are for illustration only; you should not regard them as an indication of future performance of the bond market as a whole or the Funds in particular.

11


 

Plain Talk About Bonds and Interest Rates
 
As a rule, when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. The opposite is also true:
Bond prices go up when interest rates fall. Why do bond prices and interest rates
move in opposite directions? Let’s assume that you hold a bond offering a 4%
yield. A year later, interest rates are on the rise and bonds of comparable quality
and maturity are offered with a 5% yield. With higher-yielding bonds available,
you would have trouble selling your 4% bond for the price you paid—you would
probably have to lower your asking price. On the other hand, if interest rates were
falling and 3% bonds were being offered, you should be able to sell your 4%
bond for more than you paid.
 
How mortgage-backed securities are different: In general, declining interest rates
will not lift the prices of mortgage-backed securities—such as GNMAs—as much
as the prices of comparable bonds. Why? Because when interest rates fall, the
bond market tends to discount the prices of mortgage-backed securities for
prepayment risk—the possibility that homeowners will refinance their mortgages
at lower rates and cause the bonds to be paid off prior to maturity. In part to
compensate for this prepayment possibility, mortgage-backed securities tend to
offer higher yields than other bonds of comparable credit quality and maturity.

 

Changes in interest rates can affect bond income as well as bond prices.


Each Fund is subject to income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. A fund’s income declines when interest rates fall because the fund then must invest in lower-yielding bonds. Income risk is generally moderate for the Funds because they invest primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds.

Plain Talk About Bond Maturities
 
A bond is issued with a specific maturity date—the date when the issuer must pay
back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year
to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk
you, as a bond investor, face as interest rates rise—but also the higher yield you
could receive. Longer-term bonds are more suitable for investors willing to take a
greater risk of price fluctuations to get higher and more stable interest income.
Shorter-term bond investors should be willing to accept lower yields and greater
income variability in return for less fluctuation in the value of their investment.

 

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Although falling interest rates tend to strengthen bond prices, they can cause other sorts of problems for bond fund investors—bond calls and prepayments.


Each Fund is subject to call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupons or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond’s call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk.

Because each Fund invests only a small portion of its assets in callable bonds and mortgage-backed securities, call/prepayment risk should be low for each Fund.


Each Fund is subject to credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline.

Although the Total International Bond Index Fund purchases only investment-grade bonds, a bond held by the Fund may be downgraded, causing the Fund to hold securities below investment-grade. If a bond is downgraded below investment-grade, the Fund will generally attempt to sell the bond within a reasonable period of time. If the Fund determines that the bond cannot be sold at a reasonable price, the Fund may hold the bond until a reasonable price for the bond may be obtained.

The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund purchases both investment-grade and below investment-grade bonds. Therefore, its credit risk is higher than that of the Total International Bond Index Fund.

Plain Talk About Credit Quality
 
A bond’s credit-quality rating is an assessment of the issuer’s ability to pay interest
on the bond and, ultimately, to repay the principal. Credit quality is evaluated by one
of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (for example, Moody‘s or
Standard & Poor‘s) or through independent analysis conducted by a fund’s advisor.
The lower the rating, the greater the chance—in the rating agency’s or advisor’s
opinion—that the bond issuer will default, or fail to meet its payment obligations.
All things being equal, the lower a bond’s credit rating, the higher its yield should be
to compensate investors for assuming additional risk. Investment-grade bonds are
those rated in one of the four highest ratings categories. A fund may treat an
unrated bond as investment-grade if warranted by the advisor’s analysis.

 

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Each Fund is subject to country/regional risk. Country/regional risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign companies, governments, or government agencies. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign companies, governments, or government agencies located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.


The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund is subject to emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the bonds of governments located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the bonds of governments located in more developed foreign markets.


The Total International Bond Index Fund is subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the chance that currency hedging transactions may not perfectly hedge and may eliminate any chance for a fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies.


The Total International Bond Index Fund is subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the chance that a counterparty to a derivative contract with the Fund is unable or unwilling to meets its financial obligations.

To a limited extent, the Total International Bond Index Fund is also exposed to event risk, which is the chance that corporate fixed income securities held by the Fund may suffer a substantial decline in credit quality and market value because of a restructuring of the companies that issued the securities, or because of other factors negatively affecting the issuers.

The following summary table is provided to help you distinguish between the Funds and their various risks.

Risks of the Funds          
 
      Call/   Country/
  Income Interest Prepayment Credit Regional
Fund Risk Rate Risk Risk Risk Risk
Total International Bond Index Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate
Emerging Markets Government          
Bond Index Moderate Moderate Low Moderate High

 

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Plain Talk About International Investing
 
U.S. investors who invest abroad will encounter risks not typically associated
with U.S. companies, because foreign stock and bond markets operate differently
from the U.S. markets. For instance, foreign companies are not subject to the
same accounting, auditing, and financial-reporting standards and practices as
U.S. companies, and their stocks may not be as liquid as those of similar U.S.
firms. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, and companies generally
have less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the
United States. These factors, among others, could negatively affect the returns
U.S. investors receive from foreign investments.

 

Security Selection

Index sampling strategy. Because it would be very expensive and inefficient to buy and sell all bonds held in their target indexes—which is an indexing strategy called “replication”— each Fund uses index “sampling” techniques to select securities. Using sophisticated computer programs, each Fund’s advisor generally selects a representative sample of securities that approximates the full target index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. These factors include duration, cash flow, quality, and callability of the underlying bonds. In addition, each Fund keeps industry sector and subsector exposure within tight boundaries relative to its target index. Because the Funds do not hold all the securities in their target indexes, some of the securities (and issuers) that are held will likely be overweighted (or underweighted) compared with the target indexes.


Each Fund is subject to index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for a Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for each Fund should be low.

The following table shows the number of bonds in each Fund’s target index, as of .

  Number of Bonds
Fund in Target Index
Total International Bond Index
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index

 

Types of bonds. The Total International Bond Index Fund tracks the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate ex-USD Float-Adjusted Index (Hedged), which represents the universe of global non-U.S. dollar-denominated public, taxable, investment-grade, fixed income securities—including government and corporate, as well as mortgage-backed and asset-backed, securities—all with maturities of more than one year. The

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Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund tracks the Barclays Capital Emerging Markets Sovereign Index (USD), which includes U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds with maturities of more than one year.

An explanation of the different types of bond follows.

Local currency bonds are denominated in a country’s local currency and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that a Fund owns foreign bonds, it is subject to country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by governments, government agencies, and companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in the currency of the issuer’s country rather than in U.S. dollars, the investor is exposed to currency risk. For a hedged portfolio, currency risk should be low.

International dollar-denominated bonds are bonds denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that a Fund owns foreign bonds, it is subject to country risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by governments, government agencies, and companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in dollars rather than in the currency of the issuer’s country, the investor is not exposed to currency risk; rather, the issuer assumes the risk, usually to attract U.S. investors.

Corporate bonds (non-U.S. issuers) are IOUs issued by businesses that want to borrow money for some purpose—often to develop a new product or service, to expand into a new market, or to buy another company. As with other types of bonds, the issuer promises to repay the principal on a specific date and to make interest payments in the meantime. The amount of interest offered depends both on market conditions and on the financial health of the corporation issuing the bonds; a company whose credit rating is not strong will have to offer a higher interest rate to obtain buyers for its bonds. Corporate bonds include securities that are backed by a pool of underlying assets (asset-backed securities) or commercial mortgages (commercial mortgage-backed bonds). The Total International Bond Index Fund expects to purchase only investment-grade corporate bonds.

Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in underlying pools of mortgages.

Unlike ordinary bonds, which generally pay a fixed rate of interest at regular intervals and then repay principal upon maturity, mortgage-backed securities pass through both interest and principal from underlying mortgages as part of their regular payments.

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Because the mortgages underlying the securities can be prepaid at any time by homeowners or by corporate borrowers, mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

Each Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in bonds held in its target index. Up to 30% of each Fund’s assets may be used to purchase nonpublic, investment-grade securities, generally referred to as 144A securities, as well as smaller public issues or medium-term notes not included in the index because of the small size of the issue. The vast majority of these securities will have characteristics and risks similar to those in the target indexes. Subject to a 20% limit, the Funds may also purchase other investments that are outside of their target indexes or may hold bonds that, when acquired, were included in the index but subsequently were removed.

Each Fund reserves the right to substitute a different index for the index it currently tracks if the current index is discontinued, if the Fund’s agreement with the sponsor of its target index is terminated, or for any other reason determined in good faith by the Fund’s board of trustees. In any such instance, the substitute index would measure the same general market segment as the current index.


Each Fund may invest in derivatives. In general, derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of the underlying securities, assets, or market indexes.

Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, bond, or currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), or a market index (such as the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index). A Fund may invest in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards of the derivatives are consistent with the investment objective, policies, strategies, and risks of the Fund as disclosed in this prospectus. The advisor will not use derivatives to change the risk exposure of the Fund. In particular, derivatives will be used only when they may help the advisor:

• Invest in eligible asset classes with greater efficiency and lower cost than is possible through direct investment;

• Add value when these instruments are attractively priced;

• Adjust sensitivity to changes in interest rates; or

• In the case of the Total International Bond Index Fund, hedge currency risk.

The Funds‘ derivative investments may include fixed income futures contracts, fixed income options, interest rate swaps, total return swaps, credit default swaps, or other derivatives. Losses (or gains) involving futures contracts can sometimes be substantial—in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract

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may result in an immediate and substantial loss (or gain) for a fund. Similar risks exist for other types of derivatives.

Plain Talk About Derivatives
 
Derivatives can take many forms. Some forms of derivatives, such as exchange-
traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes, have been
trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are
standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold, and whose market
values are determined and published daily. Nonstandardized derivatives (such as
swap agreements), on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex,
and may be harder to value.

 

Vanguard may invest a small portion of each Fund’s assets in shares of bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs provide returns similar to those of the bonds listed in the index or in a subset of the index. Vanguard may purchase ETFs when doing so will reduce the Fund’s transaction costs or add value because the instruments are favorably priced. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from investing Fund assets in ETF Shares of other Vanguard funds. Fund assets invested in ETF Shares are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

Cash Management

Each Fund’s daily cash balance may be invested in one or more Vanguard CMT Funds, which are very low-cost money market funds. When investing in a Vanguard CMT Fund, each Fund bears its proportionate share of the at-cost expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests.

Temporary Investment Measures

Each Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when doing so is believed to be in the Fund’s best interest, so long as the alternative is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond the normal limits in derivatives or ETFs that are consistent with the Fund’s objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case when the Fund receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

Purchase, Redemption, and Account Service Fees

The Funds change purchase fees of 0.25% (for the Total International Bond Index Fund) and 0.75% (for the Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund) on all purchases of shares, including shares that you purchase by exchange from another

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Vanguard fund. Purchases that result from reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions are not subject to the purchase fees. In addition, the Funds each charge a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed before they have been held for two months. The fee applies if you redeem shares by selling or by exchanging to another Vanguard fund, or if Vanguard liquidates your Fund account because the balance falls below the minimum initial investment for any reason, including market fluctuation. Shares you have held the longest will be redeemed first.

Unlike a sales charge or a load paid to a broker or a fund management company, purchase and redemption fees are paid directly to the Fund to offset the costs of buying and selling securities. The 2% redemption fee is designed to ensure that short-term investors pay their share of the Fund’s transaction costs and that long-term investors do not subsidize the activities of short-term traders.

An account service fee of $20 per year applies to certain fund accounts whose balances are less than $10,000.

See Investing With Vanguard for more information about fees.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund’s shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, a fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor’s ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to Address Frequent Trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. Vanguard ETF® Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading policies, although the brokerage firm through which ETF Shares are held may place certain limits on the ability to purchase and/or sell ETF Shares over any given period. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

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• Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because of a history of frequent trading by the investor or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund’s operation or performance.

• Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor’s purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 60 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

• Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard’s transaction policies.

Each fund (other than money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will, when appropriate, use fair-value pricing, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

Turnover Rate

Although the Funds generally seek to invest for the long term, each Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. Generally, an index fund sells securities in response to redemption requests or to changes in the composition of a target index, or to manage the fund’s duration.

Plain Talk About Turnover Rate
 
Turnover rate gives an indication of how transaction costs, which are not included
in the fund’s expense ratio, could affect the fund’s future returns. In general, the
greater the volume of buying and selling by the fund, the greater the impact that
dealer markups and other transaction costs will have on its return. Also, funds
with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains that must be
distributed to shareholders as taxable income.

 

The Funds and Vanguard

Each Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of more than 170 mutual funds holding assets of approximately $1.6 trillion. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated

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with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, equipment, and advertising.

Vanguard also provides marketing services to the funds. Although shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of The Vanguard Group’s marketing costs.

Plain Talk About Vanguard’s Unique Corporate Structure
 
The Vanguard Group is truly a mutual mutual fund company. It is owned jointly by
the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds.
Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that may be
owned by one person, by a private group of individuals, or by public investors
who own the management company’s stock. The management fees charged by
these companies include a profit component over and above the companies’ cost
of providing services. By contrast, Vanguard provides services to its member
funds on an at-cost basis, with no profit component, which helps to keep the
funds’ expenses low.

 

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, which began operations in 1975, serves as advisor to the Funds through its Fixed Income Group. As of •, Vanguard served as advisor for approximately $• trillion in assets. Vanguard manages the Funds on an at-cost basis, subject to the supervision and oversight of the trustees and officers of the Funds.

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved each Fund’s investment advisory arrangement, see the semiannual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended April 30, 2012, which will be available 60 days after that date.

Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group is overseen by:

George U. Sauter, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Vanguard. As Chief Investment Officer, he is responsible for the oversight of Vanguard’s Quantitative Equity and Fixed Income Groups. The investments managed by these two groups include active quantitative equity funds, equity index funds, active bond funds, index bond funds, stable value portfolios, and money market funds. Since joining Vanguard in 1987, Mr. Sauter has been a key contributor to the development of Vanguard’s stock indexing and active quantitative equity investment strategies. He received his A.B. in Economics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago.

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Robert F. Auwaerter, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group. He has direct oversight responsibility for all money market funds, bond funds, and stable value portfolios managed by the Fixed Income Group. He has managed investment portfolios since 1978 and has been with Vanguard since 1981. He received his B.S. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Kenneth E. Volpert, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Taxable Bond Group. He has direct oversight responsibility for all taxable bond funds managed by the Fixed Income Group. He has managed investment portfolios since 1982 and has been with Vanguard since 1992. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds are:

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has worked in investment management for Vanguard since 1999; has managed investment portfolios since 2000; and has co-managed the Funds since their inceptions in January 2012. Education: B.S., The Pennsylvania State University; M.B.A., The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has worked in investment management for Vanguard since 2004; has managed investment portfolios since 2007; and has co-managed the Funds since their inceptions in January 2012. Education: B.S, JiNan University; MBA, Drexel University.

The Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Funds.

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

Each Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest less expenses) as well as any net capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. The Fund’s income dividends are declared • and distributed •; capital gains distributions generally occur annually in •. You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund.

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Plain Talk About Distributions
 
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund’s income from interest
as well as capital gains from the fund’s sale of investments. Income consists of
interest the fund earns from its money market and bond investments. Capital
gains are realized whenever the fund sells securities for higher prices than it paid
for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on
whether the fund held the securities for one year or less or for more than one year.

 

Basic Tax Points

Vanguard will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all your distributions. In addition, investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

• Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

• Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

• Any dividend or short-term capital gains distributions that you receive are taxable to you as ordinary income.

• Any distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you’ve owned shares in the Fund.

• Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Funds‘ normal investment activities and cash flows.

• A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

• Any conversion between classes of shares of the same fund is a nontaxable event. By contrast, an exchange between classes of shares of different funds is a taxable event.

Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest, and some capital gains that the Fund receives on foreign securities. You may qualify for an offsetting credit or deduction under U.S. tax laws for any amount designated as your portion of the Fund’s foreign tax obligations, provided that you meet certain requirements. See your tax advisor or IRS publications for more information.

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This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 28% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

  • Provide us with your correct taxpayer identification number;
  • Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct; and
  • Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

Foreign investors. Vanguard’s SEC-registered funds, including the Funds offered in this prospectus, generally are not sold outside the United States, except to certain qualified investors. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes may apply to any investments in Vanguard funds. Foreign investors should visit the “Non-U.S. Investors” page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard’s non-U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If a dividend or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. Each share class has its own NAV, which is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, allocated to each share class by the number of Fund shares outstanding for that class. On holidays or other days when the Exchange is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Funds do not transact purchase or redemption requests. However, on those days the value of the Funds’ assets may be affected to the extent that the Funds hold foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open.

Debt securities held by a Vanguard fund are valued based on information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations. Certain short-term debt instruments used to manage a fund’s cash are valued on the basis of amortized cost. The values of any mutual fund shares held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the

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shares. The values of any ETF or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

When a fund determines that pricing-service information or market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security). Additionally, a fund also will use fair-value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, which may trade on foreign exchanges or markets that close many hours before the fund’s pricing time. Intervening events might be: company-specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement), or country-specific or regional/global (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political news, act of terrorism, interest rate change). Intervening events include price movements in U.S. markets that are deemed to affect the value of foreign securities.

Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies, without notice to shareholders. Please call or check online for current information.

Each fund you hold in an account is a separate “fund account.” For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to “you” in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open, convert shares to, or maintain a fund account, or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

Account Minimums for Investor Shares To open and maintain an account. $3,000.

Add to an existing account. $100 (other than by Automatic Investment Plan, which has no established minimum).

Account Minimums for Admiral Shares

To open and maintain an account. $10,000. If you request Admiral Shares when you open a new account, but the investment amount does not meet the account minimum for Admiral Shares, your investment will be placed in Investor Shares of the Fund. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them.

Add to an existing account. $100 (other than by Automatic Investment Plan, which has no established minimum).

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Policy, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange (the purchase of shares of one Vanguard fund using the

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proceeds of a simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund) through our website at vanguard.com if you are a registered user.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from your account statement), with a deposit slip (available online), or with a written request. You may also send a written request to Vanguard to make an exchange. For a list of Vanguard addresses, see Contacting Vanguard.

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer option on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the option is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or from time to time. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may send a check to make initial or additional purchases to your fund account. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request: By mail. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (e.g., Vanguard—xx). For a list of Fund numbers (for Funds and share classes in this prospectus), see

Additional Information.

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. NAVs are calculated only on days that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading (a business day).

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For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds, and for purchases by exchange or wire into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date will be one business day later than for other funds.

For purchases by electronic bank transfer using an Automatic Investment Plan: Your trade date generally will be one business day before the date you designated for withdrawal from your bank account.

For purchases by electronic bank transfer not using an Automatic Investment Plan: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before 10 p.m., Eastern time, the trade date generally will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after 10 p.m., Eastern time, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the request.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Purchase Fees

The Funds charge purchase fees of 0.25% (for the Total International Bond Index Fund) and 0.75% (for the Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund) on all share purchases, including shares purchased by exchange from another Vanguard fund. Purchase fees do not apply to shares purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains.

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Earning Dividends

You generally begin earning dividends on the business day following your trade date.

Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Admiral Shares. Please note that Admiral Shares are not available for:

• SIMPLE IRAs and Section 403(b)(7) custodial accounts or

• Other retirement plan accounts receiving special administrative services from Vanguard.

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars and must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler’s checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse “starter checks” and checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because of a history of frequent trading by the investor or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund’s operation or performance.

Large purchases. Please call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Converting Shares

When a conversion occurs, you receive shares of one class in place of shares of another class of the same fund. At the time of conversion, the dollar value of the “new” shares you receive equals the dollar value of the “old” shares that were converted. In other words, the conversion has no effect on the value of your investment in the fund at the time of the conversion. However, the number of shares you own after the conversion may be greater than or less than the number of shares you owned before the conversion, depending on the net asset values of the two share classes.

A conversion between share classes of the same fund is a nontaxable event.

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Trade Date

The trade date for any conversion request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request. Your conversion will be executed using the NAVs of the different share classes on the trade date. NAVs are calculated only on days that the NYSE is open for trading (a business day).

For a conversion request received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. For a conversion request received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day. See Other Rules You Should Know.

Conversions From Investor Shares to Admiral Shares

Self-directed conversions. If your account balance in the Fund is at least $10,000, you may ask Vanguard to convert your Investor Shares to Admiral Shares. You can request a conversion online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them. See Contacting Vanguard.

Automatic conversions. Vanguard conducts periodic reviews of account balances and may, if your account balance in the Fund exceeds $10,000, automatically convert your Investor Shares to Admiral Shares. You will be notified before an automatic conversion occurs and will have an opportunity to instruct Vanguard not to effect the conversion. Institutional clients should contact Vanguard for information on special eligibility rules that may apply to them.

Conversions to Institutional Shares

You are eligible for a self-directed conversion from another share class to Institutional Shares of the same Fund (if available), provided that your account meets all eligibility requirements. Registered users of our website, vanguard.com, may request a conversion online, or you may contact Vanguard by telephone or by mail to request this transaction. Accounts that qualify for Institutional Shares will not be automatically converted.

Mandatory Conversions to Another Share Class

If an account no longer meets the balance requirements for a share class, Vanguard may automatically convert the shares in the account to another share class, as appropriate. A decline in the account balance because of market movement may result in such a conversion. Vanguard will notify the investor in writing before any mandatory conversion occurs.

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Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Policy, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares and request an exchange (using the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund) through our website at vanguard.com if you are a registered user.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares. See

Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a written request to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer option on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the option is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or from time to time. Your redemption request can be initiated online, by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. When redeeming from a money market fund or a bond fund, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. Wire redemptions generally are not available for Vanguard’s balanced or stock funds. To establish the wire redemption option, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are

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redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. NAVs are calculated only on days that the NYSE is open for trading (a business day).

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

• Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

• Note on timing of wire redemptions from bond funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer using an Automatic Withdrawal Plan: Your trade date generally will be the date you designated for withdrawal of funds (redemption of shares) from your Vanguard account. Proceeds of redeemed shares generally will be credited to your designated bank account two business days after your trade date. If the date you designated for withdrawal of funds from your Vanguard account falls on a weekend, holiday, or other nonbusiness day, your trade date generally will be the previous business day.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer not using an Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to

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complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the Fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Redemption Fees

The Funds each charge a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed before they have been held for two months. The fee applies if you redeem shares by selling or by exchanging to another Vanguard fund, or if Vanguard liquidates your Fund account because the balance falls below the minimum initial investment for any reason, including market fluctuation. The fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the Fund. Shares held for two months or more are not subject to the redemption fee.

In an effort to reduce or eliminate the redemption fees you pay, if you redeem less than your full investment in the Fund, we will first redeem those shares not subject to the fee (see below), followed by those shares you have held the longest.

Redemption fees will not apply to Vanguard fund account redemptions in the following circumstances: (1) redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees; redemptions of shares to revoke an IRA within the period of time set forth in the Vanguard Traditional and Roth IRA Disclosure Document or to remove excess shareholder contributions to an IRA; and redemptions from Section 529 college savings plans; (2) share transfers, rollovers, or reregistrations within the same fund; (3) conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund; (4) redemptions in kind; and (5) for a one-year period, shares rolled over to an IRA held at Vanguard from a retirement plan for which Vanguard serves as recordkeeper.*

In addition, redemption fees will not apply to (1) distributions by shareholders age 70½ or older from traditional IRAs, rollover IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual Section 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans; and (2) distributions by beneficiaries from inherited IRAs, certain Individual Section 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Also, participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans* will not incur redemption fees for the following: exchanges of shares purchased with participant payroll or employer contributions; distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan; redemptions or transfers of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan; and direct rollovers into IRAs.

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Participants will incur redemption fees if, after making an exchange, transfer, or rollover into a fund with a redemption fee, the participant makes a subsequent exchange out of that fund within the redemption-fee period.

If Vanguard does not serve as recordkeeper for your plan, redemption fees may be applied differently. Please read your recordkeeper’s plan materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply. Also see Frequent-Trading PolicyAccounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of redemption fees by intermediaries.

* The following Vanguard fund accounts will be subject to redemption fees: SEP–IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Section 403(b)(7) accounts, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401K Plans.

Earning Dividends

You generally will continue earning dividends until the first business day following your trade date.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund’s operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Policy for information about Vanguard’s policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to ten calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 15-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing at any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

34


 

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can make exchange requests online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at any time, for any reason.

Frequent-Trading Policy

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund’s costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds) limits an investor’s purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 60 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits. The brokerage firm through which you hold your ETF Shares, however,

35


 

may place certain limits on your ability to purchase and/or sell ETF Shares over any given period.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the policy applies to exchanges made online or by phone.

The frequent-trading policy does not apply to the following:

• Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

• Transactions through Vanguard’s Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

• Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

• Transaction requests submitted by mail to Vanguard from shareholders who hold their accounts directly with Vanguard. (Transaction requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are not mail transactions and are subject to the policy.)

• Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

• Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

• Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

• Checkwriting redemptions.

• Section 529 college savings plans.

• Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by Vanguard funds that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard’s funds of funds are subject to the policy.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent-trading policy does not apply to:

• Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

• Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

• Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

• Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

• Automated transactions executed during the first six months of a participant’s enrollment in the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

• Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

• Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

• Reregistrations of shares.

• Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

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• Exchange requests submitted by mail to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are not mail requests and are subject to the policy.)

* The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading policy: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Section 403(b)(7) accounts, and Vanguard Retirement Plans for which Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company serves as trustee.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients’ accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client’s accounts the 60-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client’s purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client’s exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary’s clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients’ trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess purchase and redemption fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent-trading policies may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading policies. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm’s materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

Vanguard attempts to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings by sending just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report when two or more shareholders have the same last name and address. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department in writing, by telephone, or by e-mail.

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Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions online. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preference under “Account Profile.” You can revoke your electronic consent at any time online, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we’ll automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To conduct account transactions through Vanguard’s automated telephone service, you must first obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Call Tele-Account at 800-662-6273 to obtain a PIN.

Proof of a caller’s authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

• Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

• Account registration and address.

• Fund name and account number, if applicable.

• Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in “good order.

Good order generally means that your instructions:

• Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard’s policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

• Include the fund name and account number.

• Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage).

Written instructions also must include:

• Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction.

(Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

38


 

• Any supporting documentation that may be required.

The requirements vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, conversion, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Converting Shares, and Redeeming Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept telephone or online instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

Responsibility for Fraud

Vanguard will not be responsible for any account losses because of fraud if we reasonably believe that the person transacting business on an account is authorized to do so. Please take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account information private, and immediately review any account statements or other information that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately about any transactions or changes to your account that you believe to be unauthorized.

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state’s abandoned property law.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online, by telephone, or by Tele-Account, you can send us your transaction request by regular or express mail. See

Contacting Vanguard for addresses.

39


 

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, broker, or investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply.

Please see Frequent-Trading PolicyAccounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Account Service Fee

For most shareholders, Vanguard charges a $20 account service fee on all fund accounts that have a balance below $10,000 for any reason, including market fluctuation. The account service fee applies to both retirement and nonretirement fund accounts and will be assessed on fund accounts in all Vanguard funds, regardless of a fund’s minimum initial investment amount. The fee, which will be collected by redeeming fund shares in the amount of $20, will be deducted from a fund account only once per calendar year.

If you register on vanguard.com and elect to receive electronic delivery of statements, reports, and other materials for all of your fund accounts, the account service fee for balances below $10,000 will not be charged, so long as that election remains in effect.

The account service fee also does not apply to the following:

• Money market sweep accounts owned in connection with a Vanguard Brokerage Services® account.

• Accounts held through intermediaries.

• Accounts held by Voyager, Voyager Select, and Flagship clients. Eligibility is based on total household assets held at Vanguard, with a minimum of $50,000 to qualify for Vanguard Voyager Services®, $500,000 for Vanguard Voyager Select Services®, and $1 million for Vanguard Flagship Services®. Vanguard determines eligibility by aggregating assets of all qualifying accounts held by the investor and immediate family members who reside at the same address. Aggregate assets include investments in Vanguard mutual funds, Vanguard ETFs®, certain annuities through Vanguard, the Vanguard 529 Plan, and certain small-business accounts. Assets in employer-sponsored retirement plans for which Vanguard provides recordkeeping services may be included in determining eligibility if the investor also has a personal account holding Vanguard mutual funds. Note that assets held in a Vanguard Brokerage Services account (other than Vanguard funds, including Vanguard ETFs) are not included when determining a household’s eligibility.

• Participant accounts in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans.* Please consult your enrollment materials for the rules that apply to your account.

40


 

  • Section 529 college savings plans.
  • The following Vanguard fund accounts have alternative fee structures: SIMPLE IRAs,

certain Section 403(b)(7) accounts, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Retirement Plans for which Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company serves as trustee.

Low-Balance Accounts

Each Fund reserves the right to liquidate a fund account whose balance falls below the minimum initial investment for any reason, including market fluctuation. This policy applies to nonretirement fund accounts and accounts that are held through intermediaries. Shares redeemed in accordance with this policy will be subject to applicable redemption fees.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, conversion, service, or privilege at any time; (2) accept initial purchases by telephone; (3) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners, or if Vanguard reasonably believes a fraudulent transaction may occur or has occurred; (4) temporarily freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of the shareholder until Vanguard receives required documentation in good order; (5) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fees charged to a group of shareholders; and (6) redeem an account or suspend account privileges, without the owner’s permission to do so, in cases of threatening conduct or activity Vanguard believes to be suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard reasonably believes they are deemed to be in the best interest of a fund.

Share Classes

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to change the eligibility requirements of its share classes, including the types of clients who are eligible to purchase each share class.

41


 

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide online, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, exchange, or convert shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you by mail or online. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide online, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, transfers, and conversions for the current calendar quarter. Promptly review each summary that we provide to you by mail or online. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, we are required to provide annual tax Forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These Forms, which are generally mailed in January, will report the previous year’s dividends, capital gains distributions, proceeds from the sale of shares from taxable accounts, and distributions from IRAs and other retirement plans. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view these Forms online.

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Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide online, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard International Bond Index Funds twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

  • Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.
  • Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

Portfolio Holdings

We generally post on our website at vanguard.com, in the Portfolio section of each Fund’s Portfolio & Management page, a detailed list of the securities held by the Fund, as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter. This list is generally updated within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Vanguard may exclude any portion of these portfolio holdings from publication when deemed in the best interest of the Fund. Please consult the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

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Contacting Vanguard  
 
 
Web  
Vanguard.com For the most complete source of Vanguard news
24 hours a day, 7 days a week For fund, account, and service information
  For most account transactions
  For literature requests
 
Phone  
Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273 For automated fund and account information
(ON-BOARD) For exchange transactions (subject to limitations)
  Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Investor Information 800-662-7447 (SHIP) For fund and service information
(Text telephone for people with hearing For literature requests
impairment at 800-749-7273) Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
  Eastern time; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time
Client Services 800-662-2739 (CREW) For account information
(Text telephone for people with hearing For most account transactions
impairment at 800-749-7273) Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
  Eastern time; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time
Institutional Division For information and services for large institutional investors
888-809-8102 Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
  Eastern time
Intermediary Sales Support For information and services for financial intermediaries
800-997-2798 including broker-dealers, trust institutions, insurance
  companies, and financial advisors
  Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
  Eastern time

 

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Vanguard Addresses

Please be sure to use the correct address, depending on your method of delivery. Use of an incorrect address could delay the processing of your transaction.

Regular Mail (Individuals) The Vanguard Group    
  P.O. Box 1110      
  Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110    
Regular Mail (Institutions) The Vanguard Group    
  P.O. Box 2900      
  Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900    
Registered, Express, or Overnight The Vanguard Group    
  455 Devon Park Drive    
  Wayne, PA 19087-1815    
 
Additional Information        
 
  Suitable Newspaper Vanguard CUSIP
  for IRAs Abbreviation Fund Number Number
Total International Bond Index Fund        
Investor Shares Yes xx xx xx
Admiral Shares Yes xx xx xx
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund      
Investor Shares Yes xx xx xx
Admiral Shares Yes xx xx xx

 

CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.

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Glossary of Investment Terms

Bond. A debt security (IOU) issued by a corporation, government, or government agency in exchange for the money you lend it. In most instances, the issuer agrees to pay back the loan by a specific date and generally to make regular interest payments until that date.

Capital Gains Distribution. Payment to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Coupon. The interest rate paid by the issuer of a debt security until its maturity. It is expressed as an annual percentage of the face value of the security.

Dividend Distribution. Payment to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund’s investments.

Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its expenses during a fiscal year. The expense ratio includes management expenses (such as advisory fees, account maintenance, reporting, internal accounting, legal, and other administrative expenses); any 12b-1 distribution fees; and “other” expenses (usually fees paid to independent third parties, such as the fund’s custodian and auditor). It does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Face Value. The amount to be paid at a bond’s maturity; also known as the par value or principal.

Fixed Income Security. An investment, such as a bond, representing a debt that must be repaid by a specified date, and on which the borrower must pay a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest.

Float-Adjusted Index. An index that weights its constituent securities based on the value of the constituent securities that are available for public trading, rather than the value of all constituent securities. Some portion of an issuer’s securities may be unavailable for public trading because, for example, those securities are owned by company insiders on a restricted basis or by a government agency. By excluding unavailable securities, float-adjusted indexes can produce a more accurate picture of the returns actually experienced by investors in the measured market.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund’s investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is measured from the inception date.

Investment-Grade Bond. A debt security whose credit quality is considered by independent bond-rating agencies, or through independent analysis conducted by a fund’s advisor, to be sufficient to ensure timely payment of principal and interest under current economic circumstances. Debt securities rated in one of the four

46


 

highest rating categories are considered “investment-grade.” Other debt securities may be considered by an advisor to be investment-grade.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

Passive Management. A low-cost investment strategy in which a mutual fund attempts to track—rather than outperform—a specified market benchmark or “index”; also known as indexing.

Principal. The face value of a debt instrument or the amount of money put into an investment.

Securities. Stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other investments.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund’s net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund’s volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment’s price.

47


 

P.O. Box 2600

Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would
If you would like more information about Vanguard like information about your account, account
International Bond Index Funds, the following transactions, and/or account statements, please call:
documents will be available free upon request:  
  Client Services Department
Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders Telephone: 800-662-2739 (CREW)
Additional information about the Funds’ investments Text telephone for people with hearing impairment:
will be available in the Funds’ annual and semiannual 800-749-7273
reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will  
  Information Provided by the Securities and
find a discussion of the market conditions and  
  Exchange Commission (SEC)
investment strategies that significantly affected the  
  You can review and copy information about the Funds
Funds’ performance during their last fiscal year.  
  (including the SAI) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) in Washington, DC. To find out more about this public
The SAI provides more detailed information about service, call the SEC at 202-551-8090. Reports and
the Funds and is incorporated by reference into (and other information about the Funds are also available in
thus legally a part of) this prospectus. the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at
  sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information,
To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual  
  for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail
report (once available) or the SAI, or to request  
  address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public
additional information about the Funds or other  
  Reference Section, Securities and Exchange
Vanguard funds, please visit vanguard.com or contact us  
  Commission, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
as follows:  
  Funds’ Investment Company Act file number: 811-22619
The Vanguard Group  
Investor Information Department  
P.O. Box 2600  
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2600  
Telephone: 800-662-7447 (SHIP)  
Text telephone for people with hearing impairment:  
800-749-7273  

 

© 2012 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.

P xxxx 2012


 

Vanguard International Bond Index Funds
 
Prospectus
 
 
 
January 17, 2012
 
 
 
Institutional Shares
 
Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (ticker)
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund Institutional Shares (ticker)
 
 
Subject to Completion.
Preliminary Prospectus
Dated October 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
Information contained in this prospectus is subject to completion or amendment.
A registration statement for Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund and
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund has been filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective.
Shares of Vanguard Toal International Bond Index Fund and Vanguard Emerging
Markets Government Bond Index Fund may not be sold, nor may offers to buy be
accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This
communication shall not constitute an offer to sell, nor shall there be any sale of
these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
such state.
 
This is the Funds’ initial prospectus, so it contains no performance data.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or
passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


 

Contents      
 
 
Vanguard Fund Summaries   Investing With Vanguard 26
Total International Bond Index Fund 1 Purchasing Shares 26
Emerging Markets Government Bond      
Index Fund 5 Converting Shares 29
Investing in Index Funds 9 Redeeming Shares 30
More on the Funds 10 Exchanging Shares 34
The Funds and Vanguard 20 Frequent-Trading Policy 35
Investment Advisor 21 Other Rules You Should Know 37
Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes 22 Fund and Account Updates 40
Share Price 25 Contacting Vanguard 42
    Additional Information 43
    Glossary of Investment Terms 44

 


 

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of investment-grade bonds issued outside of the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees    
(Fees paid directly from your investment)    
 
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases None  
Purchase Fee 0.25 %
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None  
Redemption Fee (on shares held less than two months) 2 %

 

Annual Fund Operating Expenses

(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)

Management Expenses x.xx%  
12b-1 Distribution Fee None  
Other Expenses x.xx%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.25 %

 

1


 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund’s Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. This example assume that the Shares provide a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

1 Year 3 Years
$26                                $80

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund has no operating history and therefore has no portfolio turnover information.

Primary Investment Strategies

The Fund employs a “passive management”—or indexing—investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate ex-USD Float-Adjusted Index (Hedged). This Index represents the universe of global non-U.S. dollar-denominated government, government agency, corporate, and securitized investment-grade fixed-income investments, all with maturities of more than one year.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds securities that, in the aggregate, approximate the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 5 and 10 years.

Primary Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range, like the fluctuations of the overall bond market. The Fund’s performance could be hurt by:

Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Fund because it invests primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of long-term bonds.

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Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. Income risk is generally moderate for intermediate-term bond funds, so investors should expect the Fund’s monthly income to fluctuate accordingly.

Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Credit risk should be low for the Fund because it purchases only bonds that are of investment-grade quality.

Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupons or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond’s call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk. Call/prepayment risk should be low for the Fund because it invests only a small portion of its assets in callable bonds and mortgage-backed securities.

Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low.

Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign companies, governments, or government agencies. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign companies, governments, or government agencies located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk for the Fund is moderate.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

3


 

Annual Total Returns

The Fund began operations on •, 2012, so performance information is not yet available.

Investment Advisor
The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Portfolio Managers

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The following table provides the Fund’s minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Account Minimums Institutional Shares
To open and maintain an account                           $5 million
To add to an existing account $100 (other than by Automatic Investment Plan,
  which has no established minimum)

 

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. Distributions are taxable to you for federal income tax purposes, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares. A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event, which means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return. Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may also be subject to state and local income taxes.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

4


 

Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by governments of emerging market countries.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold Institutional Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees    
(Fees paid directly from your investment)    
 
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Purchases None  
Purchase Fee 0.75 %
Sales Charge (Load) Imposed on Reinvested Dividends None  
Redemption Fee (on shares held less than two months) 2 %
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses    
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)    
 
Management Expenses 0 .xx%
12b-1 Distribution Fee None  
Other Expenses 0 .xx%
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses 0.30 %

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in the Fund’s Institutional Shares with the cost of investing in other mutual funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invest $10,000 in the Fund’s shares. This example assumes that the Shares provide a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

5


 

1 Year 3 Years
$31                                             $97

 

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund has no operating history and therefore has no portfolio turnover information.

Primary Investment Strategies

The Fund employs a “passive management”—or indexing—investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital Emerging Markets Sovereign Index (USD). This Index includes U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds that have maturities longer than one year.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 10 and 15 years.

Primary Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range, like the fluctuations of the overall bond market. The Fund’s performance could be hurt by:

Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Fund because it invests primarily in intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of long-term bonds.

Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. Income risk should be moderate for the Fund, so investors should expect the Fund’s monthly income to fluctuate accordingly.

Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Credit risk should be moderate for the Fund because it purchases investment-grade and high-yield bonds.

6


 

Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low.

Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the bonds of governments located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the bonds of governments located in more developed foreign markets.

Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign governments. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign governments located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

7


 

Annual Total Returns

The Fund began operations on •, 2012, so performance information is not yet available.

Investment Advisor
The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Portfolio Managers

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You may purchase or redeem shares online through our website (vanguard.com), by mail (The Vanguard Group, P.O. Box 1110, Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110), or by telephone (800-662-2739). The following table provides the Fund’s minimum initial and subsequent investment requirements.

Account Minimums Institutional Shares
To open and maintain an account                                  $5 million
To add to an existing account $100 (other than by Automatic Investment Plan,
  which has no established minimum)

 

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. Distributions are taxable to you for federal income tax purposes, whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares. A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event, which means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return. Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may also be subject to state and local income taxes.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

8


 

Investing in Index Funds

What Is Indexing?

Indexing is an investment strategy for tracking the performance of a specified market benchmark, or “index.” An index is an unmanaged group of securities whose overall performance is used as a standard to measure the investment performance of a particular market. There are many types of indexes. Some represent entire markets—such as the U.S. stock market or the U.S. bond market. Other indexes cover market segments—such as small-capitalization stocks or short-term bonds.

An index fund holds all, or a representative sample, of the securities that make up its target index. Index funds attempt to mirror the performance of the target index, for better or worse. However, an index fund generally does not perform exactly like its target index. For example, like all mutual funds, index funds have operating expenses and transaction costs. Market indexes do not, and therefore will usually have a slight performance advantage over funds that track them.

Index funds typically have the following characteristics:

Variety of investments. Most Vanguard index funds generally invest in the securities of a wide variety of companies and industries.

Relative performance consistency. Because they seek to track market benchmarks, index funds usually do not perform dramatically better or worse than their benchmarks.

Low cost. Index funds are inexpensive to run compared with actively managed funds. They have low or no research costs and typically keep trading activity—and thus dealer markups and other transaction costs—to a minimum.

9


 

More on the Funds

This prospectus describes the primary risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main axioms of investing: The higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: The lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether a Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Share Class Overview

This prospectus offers the Funds’ Institutional Shares, which are generally for investors who invest a minimum of $5 million. A separate prospectus offers the Funds’ Investor Shares and Admiral™ Shares, which have investment minimums of $3,000 and $10,000, respectively. In addition, each Fund issues an exchange-traded class of shares (ETF Shares), which are also offered through a separate prospectus.

All share classes offered by a Fund have a same investment objective, strategies, and policies. However, different share classes have different expenses; as a result, their investment performances will differ.

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing
 
Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That’s because
you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund,
plus any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These
costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital
appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can,
over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund’s performance.

 

10


 

The following sections explain the primary investment strategies and policies that each Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund’s board of trustees, which oversees the Fund’s management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Each Fund’s policy of investing at least 80% of its assets in securities that are held in its target index may be changed only upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders. Note that each Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and may be changed without a shareholder vote.

Market Exposure


Each Fund is subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Funds because they invest primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than the prices of long-term bonds.

Although bonds are often thought to be less risky than stocks, there have been periods when bond prices have fallen significantly because of rising interest rates. For instance, prices of long-term bonds fell by almost 48% between December 1976 and September 1981.

To illustrate the relationship between bond prices and interest rates, the following table shows the effect of a 1% and a 2% change (both up and down) in interest rates on the values of three noncallable bonds of different maturities, each with a face value of $1,000.

How Interest Rate Changes Affect the Value of a $1,000 Bond1        
    After a 1%   After a 1%   After a 2%   After a 2%
Type of Bond (Maturity)   Increase   Decrease   Increase   Decrease
Short-Term (2.5 years) $ 977 $ 1,024 $ 954 $ 1,049
Intermediate-Term (10 years)   922   1,086   851   1,180
Long-Term (20 years)   874   1,150   769   1,328
1 Assuming a 4% coupon.                

 

These figures are for illustration only; you should not regard them as an indication of future performance of the bond market as a whole or the Funds in particular.

11


 

Plain Talk About Bonds and Interest Rates
 
As a rule, when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. The opposite is also true:
Bond prices go up when interest rates fall. Why do bond prices and interest rates
move in opposite directions? Let’s assume that you hold a bond offering a 4%
yield. A year later, interest rates are on the rise and bonds of comparable quality
and maturity are offered with a 5% yield. With higher-yielding bonds available,
you would have trouble selling your 4% bond for the price you paid—you would
probably have to lower your asking price. On the other hand, if interest rates were
falling and 3% bonds were being offered, you should be able to sell your 4%
bond for more than you paid.
 
How mortgage-backed securities are different: In general, declining interest rates
will not lift the prices of mortgage-backed securities—such as GNMAs—as much
as the prices of comparable bonds. Why? Because when interest rates fall, the
bond market tends to discount the prices of mortgage-backed securities for
prepayment risk—the possibility that homeowners will refinance their mortgages
at lower rates and cause the bonds to be paid off prior to maturity. In part to
compensate for this prepayment possibility, mortgage-backed securities tend to
offer higher yields than other bonds of comparable credit quality and maturity.

 

Changes in interest rates can affect bond income as well as bond prices.


Each Fund is subject to income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. A fund’s income declines when interest rates fall because the fund then must invest in lower-yielding bonds. Income risk is generally moderate for the Funds because they invest primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds.

Plain Talk About Bond Maturities
 
A bond is issued with a specific maturity date—the date when the issuer must pay
back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year
to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk
you, as a bond investor, face as interest rates rise—but also the higher yield you
could receive. Longer-term bonds are more suitable for investors willing to take a
greater risk of price fluctuations to get higher and more stable interest income.
Shorter-term bond investors should be willing to accept lower yields and greater
income variability in return for less fluctuation in the value of their investment.

 

12


 

Although falling interest rates tend to strengthen bond prices, they can cause other sorts of problems for bond fund investors—bond calls and prepayments.


Each Fund is subject to call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupons or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond’s call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk.

Because each Fund invests only a small portion of its assets in callable bonds and mortgage-backed securities, call/prepayment risk should be low for each Fund.


Each Fund is subject to credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline.

Although the Total International Bond Index Fund purchases only investment-grade bonds, a bond held by the Fund may be downgraded, causing the Fund to hold securities below investment-grade. If a bond is downgraded below investment-grade, the Fund will generally attempt to sell the bond within a reasonable period of time. If the Fund determines that the bond cannot be sold at a reasonable price, the Fund may hold the bond until a reasonable price for the bond may be obtained.

The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund purchases both investment-grade and below investment-grade bonds. Therefore, its credit risk is higher than that of the Total International Bond Index Fund.

Plain Talk About Credit Quality
 
A bond’s credit-quality rating is an assessment of the issuer’s ability to pay interest
on the bond and, ultimately, to repay the principal. Credit quality is evaluated by one
of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (for example, Moody‘s or
Standard & Poor‘s) or through independent analysis conducted by a fund’s advisor.
The lower the rating, the greater the chance—in the rating agency’s or advisor’s
opinion—that the bond issuer will default, or fail to meet its payment obligations.
All things being equal, the lower a bond’s credit rating, the higher its yield should be
to compensate investors for assuming additional risk. Investment-grade bonds are
those rated in one of the four highest ratings categories. A fund may treat an
unrated bond as investment-grade if warranted by the advisor’s analysis.

 

13


 


Each Fund is subject to country/regional risk. Country/regional risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign companies, governments, or government agencies. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign companies, governments, or government agencies located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.


The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund is subject to emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the bonds of governments located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the bonds of governments located in more developed foreign markets.


The Total International Bond Index Fund is subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the chance that currency hedging transactions may not perfectly hedge and may eliminate any chance for a fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies.


The Total International Bond Index Fund is subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the chance that a counterparty to a derivative contract with the Fund is unable or unwilling to meets its financial obligations.

To a limited extent, the Total International Bond Index Fund is also exposed to event risk, which is the chance that corporate fixed income securities held by the Fund may suffer a substantial decline in credit quality and market value because of a restructuring of the companies that issued the securities, or because of other factors negatively affecting the issuers.

The following summary table is provided to help you distinguish between the Funds and their various risks.

Risks of the Funds          
 
      Call/   Country/
  Income Interest Prepayment Credit Regional
Fund Risk Rate Risk Risk Risk Risk
Total International Bond Index Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate
Emerging Markets Government          
Bond Index Moderate Moderate Low Moderate High

 

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Plain Talk About International Investing
 
U.S. investors who invest abroad will encounter risks not typically associated
with U.S. companies, because foreign stock and bond markets operate differently
from the U.S. markets. For instance, foreign companies are not subject to the
same accounting, auditing, and financial-reporting standards and practices as
U.S. companies, and their stocks may not be as liquid as those of similar U.S.
firms. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, and companies generally
have less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the
United States. These factors, among others, could negatively affect the returns
U.S. investors receive from foreign investments.

 

Security Selection

Index sampling strategy. Because it would be very expensive and inefficient to buy and sell all bonds held in their target indexes—which is an indexing strategy called “replication”— each Fund uses index “sampling” techniques to select securities. Using sophisticated computer programs, each Fund’s advisor generally selects a representative sample of securities that approximates the full target index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. These factors include duration, cash flow, quality, and callability of the underlying bonds. In addition, each Fund keeps industry sector and subsector exposure within tight boundaries relative to its target index. Because the Funds do not hold all the securities in their target indexes, some of the securities (and issuers) that are held will likely be overweighted (or underweighted) compared with the target indexes.


Each Fund is subject to index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for a Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for each Fund should be low.

The following table shows the number of bonds in each Fund’s target index, as of •.

  Number of Bonds
Fund in Target Index
Total International Bond Index
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index

 

Types of bonds. The Total International Bond Index Fund tracks the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate ex-USD Float-Adjusted Index (Hedged), which represents the universe of global non-U.S. dollar-denominated public, taxable, investment-grade, fixed income securities—including government and corporate, as well as mortgage-

15


 

backed and asset-backed, securities—all with maturities of more than one year. The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund tracks the Barclays Capital Emerging Markets Sovereign Index (USD), which includes U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds with maturities of more than one year.

An explanation of the different types of bond follows.

Local currency bonds are denominated in a country’s local currency and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that a Fund owns foreign bonds, it is subject to country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by governments, government agencies, and companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in the currency of the issuer’s country rather than in U.S. dollars, the investor is exposed to currency risk. For a hedged portfolio, currency risk should be low.

International dollar-denominated bonds are bonds denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that a Fund owns foreign bonds, it is subject to country risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by governments, government agencies, and companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in dollars rather than in the currency of the issuer’s country, the investor is not exposed to currency risk; rather, the issuer assumes the risk, usually to attract U.S. investors.

Corporate bonds (non-U.S. issuers) are IOUs issued by businesses that want to borrow money for some purpose—often to develop a new product or service, to expand into a new market, or to buy another company. As with other types of bonds, the issuer promises to repay the principal on a specific date and to make interest payments in the meantime. The amount of interest offered depends both on market conditions and on the financial health of the corporation issuing the bonds; a company whose credit rating is not strong will have to offer a higher interest rate to obtain buyers for its bonds. Corporate bonds include securities that are backed by a pool of underlying assets (asset-backed securities) or commercial mortgages (commercial mortgage-backed bonds). The Total International Bond Index Fund expects to purchase only investment-grade corporate bonds.

Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in underlying pools of mortgages. Unlike ordinary bonds, which generally pay a fixed rate of interest at regular intervals and then repay principal upon maturity, mortgage-backed securities pass through both

16


 

interest and principal from underlying mortgages as part of their regular payments. Because the mortgages underlying the securities can be prepaid at any time by homeowners or by corporate borrowers, mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

Each Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in bonds held in its target index. Up to 30% of each Fund’s assets may be used to purchase nonpublic, investment-grade securities, generally referred to as 144A securities, as well as smaller public issues or medium-term notes not included in the index because of the small size of the issue. The vast majority of these securities will have characteristics and risks similar to those in the target indexes. Subject to a 20% limit, the Funds may also purchase other investments that are outside of their target indexes or may hold bonds that, when acquired, were included in the index but subsequently were removed.

Each Fund reserves the right to substitute a different index for the index it currently tracks if the current index is discontinued, if the Fund’s agreement with the sponsor of its target index is terminated, or for any other reason determined in good faith by the Fund’s board of trustees. In any such instance, the substitute index would measure the same general market segment as the current index.


Each Fund may invest in derivatives. In general, derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of the underlying securities, assets, or market indexes.

Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, bond, or currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), or a market index (such as the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index). A Fund may invest in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards of the derivatives are consistent with the investment objective, policies, strategies, and risks of the Fund as disclosed in this prospectus. The advisor will not use derivatives to change the risk exposure of the Fund. In particular, derivatives will be used only when they may help the advisor:

• Invest in eligible asset classes with greater efficiency and lower cost than is possible through direct investment;

• Add value when these instruments are attractively priced;

• Adjust sensitivity to changes in interest rates; or

• In the case of the Total International Bond Index Fund, hedge currency risk.

The Funds‘ derivative investments may include fixed income futures contracts, fixed income options, interest rate swaps, total return swaps, credit default swaps, or other

17


 

derivatives. Losses (or gains) involving futures contracts can sometimes be substantial—in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss (or gain) for a fund. Similar risks exist for other types of derivatives.

Plain Talk About Derivatives
 
Derivatives can take many forms. Some forms of derivatives, such as exchange-
traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes, have been
trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are
standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold, and whose market
values are determined and published daily. Nonstandardized derivatives (such as
swap agreements), on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex,
and may be harder to value.

 

Vanguard may invest a small portion of each Fund’s assets in shares of bond exchange-traded funds (ETFs). ETFs provide returns similar to those of the bonds listed in the index or in a subset of the index. Vanguard may purchase ETFs when doing so will reduce the Fund’s transaction costs or add value because the instruments are favorably priced. Vanguard receives no additional revenue from investing Fund assets in ETF Shares of other Vanguard funds. Fund assets invested in ETF Shares are excluded when allocating to the Fund its share of the costs of Vanguard operations.

Cash Management

Each Fund’s daily cash balance may be invested in one or more Vanguard CMT Funds, which are very low-cost money market funds. When investing in a Vanguard CMT Fund, each Fund bears its proportionate share of the at-cost expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests.

Temporary Investment Measures

Each Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when doing so is believed to be in the Fund’s best interest, so long as the alternative is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond the normal limits in derivatives or ETFs that are consistent with the Fund’s objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case when the Fund receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

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Purchase and Redemption Fees

The Funds change purchase fees of 0.25% (for the Total International Bond Index Fund) and 0.75% (for the Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund) on all purchases of shares, including shares that you purchase by exchange from another Vanguard fund. Purchases that result from reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions are not subject to the purchase fees. In addition, the Funds each charge a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed before they have been held for two months. The fee applies if you redeem shares by selling or by exchanging to another Vanguard fund.

Unlike a sales charge or a load paid to a broker or a fund management company, purchase and redemption fees are paid directly to the Fund to offset the costs of buying and selling securities. The 2% redemption fee is designed to ensure that short-term investors pay their share of the Fund’s transaction costs and that long-term investors do not subsidize the activities of short-term traders.

See Investing With Vanguard for more information about fees.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Background. Some investors try to profit from strategies involving frequent trading of mutual fund shares, such as market-timing. For funds holding foreign securities, investors may try to take advantage of an anticipated difference between the price of the fund’s shares and price movements in overseas markets, a practice also known as time-zone arbitrage. Investors also may try to engage in frequent trading of funds holding investments such as small-cap stocks and high-yield bonds. As money is shifted into and out of a fund by a shareholder engaging in frequent trading, a fund incurs costs for buying and selling securities, resulting in increased brokerage and administrative costs. These costs are borne by all fund shareholders, including the long-term investors who do not generate the costs. In addition, frequent trading may interfere with an advisor’s ability to efficiently manage the fund.

Policies to Address Frequent Trading. The Vanguard funds (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds) do not knowingly accommodate frequent trading. Vanguard ETF® Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading policies, although the brokerage firm through which ETF Shares are held may place certain limits on the ability to purchase and/or sell ETF Shares over any given period. The board of trustees of each Vanguard fund has adopted policies and procedures reasonably designed to detect and discourage frequent trading and, in some cases, to compensate the fund for the costs associated with it. Although there is no assurance that Vanguard will be able to detect or prevent frequent trading or market-timing in all circumstances, the following policies have been adopted to address these issues:

• Each Vanguard fund reserves the right to reject any purchase request—including exchanges from other Vanguard funds—without notice and regardless of size. For example, a purchase request could be rejected because of a history of frequent

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trading by the investor or if Vanguard determines that such purchase may negatively affect a fund’s operation or performance.

• Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds) generally prohibits, except as otherwise noted in the Investing With Vanguard section, an investor’s purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 60 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account.

• Certain Vanguard funds charge shareholders purchase and/or redemption fees on transactions.

See the Investing With Vanguard section of this prospectus for further details on Vanguard’s transaction policies.

Each fund (other than money market funds), in determining its net asset value, will, when appropriate, use fair-value pricing, as described in the Share Price section. Fair-value pricing may reduce or eliminate the profitability of certain frequent-trading strategies.

Do not invest with Vanguard if you are a market-timer.

Turnover Rate

Although the Funds generally seek to invest for the long term, each Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. Generally, an index fund sells securities in response to redemption requests or to changes in the composition of a target index, or to manage the fund’s duration.

Plain Talk About Turnover Rate
 
Turnover rate gives an indication of how transaction costs, which are not included
in the fund’s expense ratio, could affect the fund’s future returns. In general, the
greater the volume of buying and selling by the fund, the greater the impact that
dealer markups and other transaction costs will have on its return. Also, funds
with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains that must be
distributed to shareholders as taxable income.

 

The Funds and Vanguard

Each Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of more than 170 mutual funds holding assets of approximately $1.6 trillion. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, equipment, and advertising.

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Vanguard also provides marketing services to the funds. Although shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of The Vanguard Group’s marketing costs.

Plain Talk About Vanguard’s Unique Corporate Structure
 
The Vanguard Group is truly a mutual mutual fund company. It is owned jointly by
the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds.
Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that may be
owned by one person, by a private group of individuals, or by public investors
who own the management company’s stock. The management fees charged by
these companies include a profit component over and above the companies’ cost
of providing services. By contrast, Vanguard provides services to its member
funds on an at-cost basis, with no profit component, which helps to keep the
funds’ expenses low.

 

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, which began operations in 1975, serves as advisor to the Funds through its Fixed Income Group. As of •, Vanguard served as advisor for approximately $• trillion in assets. Vanguard manages the Funds on an at-cost basis, subject to the supervision and oversight of the trustees and officers of the Funds.

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved each Fund’s investment advisory arrangement, see the semiannual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended April 30, 2012, which will be available 60 days after that date.

Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group is overseen by:

George U. Sauter, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Vanguard. As Chief Investment Officer, he is responsible for the oversight of Vanguard’s Quantitative Equity and Fixed Income Groups. The investments managed by these two groups include active quantitative equity funds, equity index funds, active bond funds, index bond funds, stable value portfolios, and money market funds. Since joining Vanguard in 1987, Mr. Sauter has been a key contributor to the development of Vanguard’s stock indexing and active quantitative equity investment strategies. He received his A.B. in Economics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago.

Robert F. Auwaerter, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group. He has direct oversight responsibility for all money market funds, bond funds, and stable value portfolios managed by the Fixed Income Group. He has managed

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investment portfolios since 1978 and has been with Vanguard since 1981. He received his B.S. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Kenneth E. Volpert, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Taxable Bond Group. He has direct oversight responsibility for all taxable bond funds managed by the Fixed Income Group. He has managed investment portfolios since 1982 and has been with Vanguard since 1992. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds are:

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has worked in investment management for Vanguard since 1999; has managed investment portfolios since 2000; and has co-managed the Funds since their inceptions in January 2012. Education: B.S., The Pennsylvania State University; M.B.A., The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has worked in investment management for Vanguard since 2004; has managed investment portfolios since 2007; and has co-managed the Funds since their inceptions in January 2012. Education: B.S, JiNan University; MBA, Drexel University

The Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Funds.

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

Each Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest less expenses) as well as any net capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. The Fund’s income dividends are declared • and distributed •; capital gains distributions generally occur annually in •. You can receive distributions of income or capital gains in cash, or you can have them automatically reinvested in more shares of the Fund.

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Plain Talk About Distributions
 
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund’s income from interest
as well as capital gains from the fund’s sale of investments. Income consists of
interest the fund earns from its money market and bond investments. Capital
gains are realized whenever the fund sells securities for higher prices than it paid
for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on
whether the fund held the securities for one year or less or for more than one year.

 

Basic Tax Points

Vanguard will send you a statement each year showing the tax status of all your distributions. In addition, investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

• Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional Fund shares.

• Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

• Any dividend and short-term capital gains distributions that you receive are taxable to you as ordinary income.

• Any distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you’ve owned shares in the Fund.

• Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Funds‘ normal investment activities and cash flows.

• A sale or exchange of Fund shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

• Any conversion between classes of shares of the same fund is a nontaxable event. By contrast, an exchange between classes of shares of different funds is a taxable event.

Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale or exchange of Fund shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest, and some capital gains that the Fund receives on foreign securities. You may qualify for an offsetting credit or deduction under U.S. tax laws for any amount designated as your portion of the Fund’s foreign tax obligations, provided that you meet certain requirements. See your tax advisor or IRS publications for more information.

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This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

General Information

Backup withholding. By law, Vanguard must withhold 28% of any taxable distributions or redemptions from your account if you do not:

  • Provide us with your correct taxpayer identification number;
  • Certify that the taxpayer identification number is correct; and
  • Confirm that you are not subject to backup withholding.

Similarly, Vanguard must withhold taxes from your account if the IRS instructs us to do so.

Foreign investors. Vanguard’s SEC-registered funds, including the Funds offered in this prospectus, generally are not sold outside the United States, except to certain qualified investors. Non-U.S. investors should be aware that U.S. withholding and estate taxes may apply to any investments in Vanguard funds. Foreign investors should visit the “Non-U.S. Investors” page on our website at vanguard.com for information on Vanguard’s non-U.S. products.

Invalid addresses. If a dividend or capital gains distribution check mailed to your address of record is returned as undeliverable, Vanguard will automatically reinvest the distribution and all future distributions until you provide us with a valid mailing address. Reinvestments will receive the net asset value calculated on the date of the reinvestment.

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Share Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. Each share class has its own NAV, which is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, allocated to each share class by the number of Fund shares outstanding for that class. On holidays or other days when the Exchange is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Funds do not transact purchase or redemption requests. However, on those days the value of the Funds’ assets may be affected to the extent that the Funds hold foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open.

Debt securities held by a Vanguard fund are valued based on information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations. Certain short-term debt instruments used to manage a fund’s cash are valued on the basis of amortized cost. The values of any mutual fund shares held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

When a fund determines that pricing-service information or market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security). Additionally, a fund also will use fair-value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, which may trade on foreign exchanges or markets that close many hours before the fund’s pricing time. Intervening events might be: company-specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement), or country-specific or regional/global (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political news, act of terrorism, interest rate change). Intervening events include price movements in U.S. markets that are deemed to affect the value of foreign securities.

Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard fund share prices are published daily on our website at vanguard.com/prices.

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Investing With Vanguard

This section of the prospectus explains the basics of doing business with Vanguard. Be sure to carefully read each topic that pertains to your relationship with Vanguard. Vanguard reserves the right to change the following policies, without notice to shareholders. Please call or check online for current information.

Each fund you hold in an account is a separate “fund account.” For example, if you hold three funds in a nonretirement account titled in your own name, two funds in a nonretirement account titled jointly with your spouse, and one fund in an individual retirement account, you have six fund accounts—and this is true even if you hold the same fund in multiple accounts. Note that each reference to “you” in this prospectus applies to any one or more registered account owners or persons authorized to transact on your account.

Purchasing Shares

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to increase or decrease the minimum amount required to open, convert shares to, or maintain a fund account, or to add to an existing fund account.

Investment minimums may differ for certain categories of investors.

Account Minimums for Institutional Shares To open and maintain an account. $5 million

Certain Vanguard institutional clients may meet the minimum investment amount by aggregating up to three separate accounts within the same Fund. This aggregation policy does not apply to clients receiving special administrative services from Vanguard or to omnibus accounts maintained by financial intermediaries.

Institutional clients whose accounts are recordkept by Vanguard generally may hold Institutional Shares if the client has $• million or more in the Funds. Vanguard may charge certain additional recordkeeping fees. Please contact your Vanguard representative to determine whether additional recordkeeping fees apply to your account.

Add to an existing account. $100 (other than by Automatic Investment Plan, which has no established minimum).

How to Initiate a Purchase Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Policy, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your purchase request.

Online. You may open certain types of accounts, request a purchase of shares, and request an exchange (the purchase of shares of one Vanguard fund using the

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proceeds of a simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund) through our website at vanguard.com if you are a registered user.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to begin the account registration process or request that the account-opening forms be sent to you. You may also call Vanguard to request a purchase of shares in your account. See Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send Vanguard your account registration form and check to open a new fund account. To add to an existing fund account, you may send your check with an Invest-by-Mail form (from your account statement), with a deposit slip (available online), or with a written request. You may also send a written request to Vanguard to make an exchange. For a list of Vanguard addresses, see Contacting Vanguard.

How to Pay for a Purchase

By electronic bank transfer. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund through an electronic transfer of money from a bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer option on an account, you must designate the bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the option is set up on your account, you can purchase shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular schedule (Automatic Investment Plan) or from time to time. Your purchase request can be initiated online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. Wiring instructions vary for different types of purchases. Please call Vanguard for instructions and policies on purchasing shares by wire. See Contacting Vanguard.

By check. You may send a check to make initial or additional purchases to your fund account. Also see How to Initiate a Purchase Request: By mail. Make your check payable to Vanguard and include the appropriate fund number (e.g., Vanguard—xx). For a list of Fund numbers (for Funds and share classes in this prospectus), see

Additional Information.

By exchange. You may purchase shares of a Vanguard fund using the proceeds from the simultaneous redemption of shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail. See Exchanging Shares.

Trade Date

The trade date for any purchase request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request, the manner in which you are paying, and the type of fund you are purchasing. Your purchase will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. NAVs are calculated only on days that the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) is open for trading (a business day).

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For purchases by check into all funds other than money market funds, and for purchases by exchange or wire into all funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

For purchases by check into money market funds: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the purchase request. Because money market instruments must be purchased with federal funds and it takes a money market mutual fund one business day to convert check proceeds into federal funds, the trade date will be one business day later than for other funds.

For purchases by electronic bank transfer using an Automatic Investment Plan: Your trade date generally will be one business day before the date you designated for withdrawal from your bank account.

For purchases by electronic bank transfer not using an Automatic Investment Plan: If the purchase request is received by Vanguard on a business day before 10 p.m., Eastern time, the trade date generally will be the next business day. If the purchase request is received on a business day after 10 p.m., Eastern time, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the second business day following the day Vanguard receives the request.

If your purchase request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about purchase transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Purchase Fees

The Funds charge purchase fees of 0.25% (for the Total International Bond Index Fund) and 0.75% (for the Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund) on all share purchases, including shares purchased by exchange from another Vanguard fund. Purchase fees do not apply to shares purchased through reinvested dividends or capital gains.

Earning Dividends

You generally begin earning dividends on the business day following your trade date.

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Other Purchase Rules You Should Know

Check purchases. All purchase checks must be written in U.S. dollars and must be drawn on a U.S. bank. Vanguard does not accept cash, traveler’s checks, or money orders. In addition, Vanguard may refuse “starter checks” and checks that are not made payable to Vanguard.

New accounts. We are required by law to obtain from you certain personal information that we will use to verify your identity. If you do not provide the information, we may not be able to open your account. If we are unable to verify your identity, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to close your account or take such other steps as we deem reasonable.

Refused or rejected purchase requests. Vanguard reserves the right to stop selling fund shares or to reject any purchase request at any time and without notice, including, but not limited to, purchases requested by exchange from another Vanguard fund. This also includes the right to reject any purchase request because of a history of frequent trading by the investor or because the purchase may negatively affect a fund’s operation or performance.

Large purchases. Please call Vanguard before attempting to invest a large dollar amount.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any purchase request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a purchase request.

Converting Shares

When a conversion occurs, you receive shares of one class in place of shares of another class of the same fund. At the time of conversion, the dollar value of the “new” shares you receive equals the dollar value of the “old” shares that were converted. In other words, the conversion has no effect on the value of your investment in the fund at the time of the conversion. However, the number of shares you own after the conversion may be greater than or less than the number of shares you owned before the conversion, depending on the net asset values of the two share classes.

A conversion between share classes of the same fund is a nontaxable event.

Trade Date

The trade date for any conversion request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request. Your conversion will be executed using the NAVs of the different share classes on the trade date. NAVs are calculated only on days that the NYSE is open for trading (a business day).

For a conversion request received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the

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same day. For a conversion request received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day. See Other Rules You Should Know.

Conversions to Institutional Shares

You are eligible for a self-directed conversion from another share class to Institutional Shares of the Fund, provided that your account meets all Institutional Shares’ eligibility requirements. Registered users of our website, vanguard.com, may request a conversion online, or you may contact Vanguard by telephone or by mail to request this transaction. Accounts that qualify for Institutional Shares will not be automatically converted.

Mandatory Conversions to Another Share Class

If an account no longer meets the balance requirements for a share class, Vanguard may automatically convert the shares in the account to another share class, as appropriate. A decline in the account balance because of market movement may result in such a conversion. Vanguard will notify the investor in writing before any mandatory conversion occurs.

Redeeming Shares

How to Initiate a Redemption Request

Be sure to check Exchanging Shares, Frequent-Trading Policy, and Other Rules You Should Know before placing your redemption request.

Online. You may request a redemption of shares and request an exchange (using the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund) through our website at vanguard.com if you are a registered user.

By telephone. You may call Vanguard to request a redemption of shares. See

Contacting Vanguard.

By mail. You may send a written request to Vanguard to redeem from a fund account or to make an exchange. See Contacting Vanguard.

How to Receive Redemption Proceeds

By electronic bank transfer. You may have the proceeds of a fund redemption sent directly to a designated bank account. To establish the electronic bank transfer option on an account, you must designate a bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form. After the option is set up on your account, you can redeem shares by electronic bank transfer on a regular

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schedule (Automatic Withdrawal Plan) or from time to time. Your redemption request can be initiated online, by telephone, or by mail.

By wire. When redeeming from a money market fund or a bond fund, you may instruct Vanguard to wire your redemption proceeds ($1,000 minimum) to a previously designated bank account. Wire redemptions generally are not available for Vanguard’s balanced or stock funds. To establish the wire redemption option, you generally must designate a bank account online, complete a special form, or fill out the appropriate section of your account registration form.

By exchange. You may have the proceeds of a Vanguard fund redemption invested directly in shares of another Vanguard fund. You may initiate an exchange online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail.

By check. If you have not chosen another redemption method, Vanguard will mail you a redemption check, generally payable to all registered account owners, normally within two business days of your trade date.

Trade Date

The trade date for any redemption request received in good order will depend on the day and time Vanguard receives your request and the manner in which you are redeeming. Your redemption will be executed using the NAV as calculated on the trade date. NAVs are calculated only on days that the NYSE is open for trading (a business day).

For redemptions by check, exchange, or wire: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

• Note on timing of wire redemptions from money market funds: For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day before 10:45 a.m., Eastern time (2 p.m., Eastern time, for Vanguard Prime Money Market Fund), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business the same day. For telephone requests received by Vanguard on a business day after those cut-off times, or on a nonbusiness day, and for all requests other than by telephone, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day.

• Note on timing of wire redemptions from bond funds: For requests received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the next business day. For requests received by Vanguard on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on

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a nonbusiness day, the redemption proceeds generally will leave Vanguard by the close of business on the second business day after Vanguard receives the request.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer using an Automatic Withdrawal Plan: Your trade date generally will be the date you designated for withdrawal of funds (redemption of shares) from your Vanguard account. Proceeds of redeemed shares generally will be credited to your designated bank account two business days after your trade date. If the date you designated for withdrawal of funds from your Vanguard account falls on a weekend, holiday, or other nonbusiness day, your trade date generally will be the previous business day.

For redemptions by electronic bank transfer not using an Automatic Withdrawal Plan: If the redemption request is received by Vanguard on a business day before the close of regular trading on the NYSE (generally 4 p.m., Eastern time), the trade date will be the same day. If the redemption request is received on a business day after the close of regular trading on the NYSE, or on a nonbusiness day, the trade date will be the next business day.

If your redemption request is not accurate and complete, it may be rejected. If we are unable to send your redemption proceeds by wire or electronic bank transfer because the receiving institution rejects the transfer, Vanguard will make additional efforts to complete your transaction. If Vanguard is still unable to complete the transaction, we may send the proceeds of the redemption to you by check, generally payable to all registered account owners, or use your proceeds to purchase new shares of the Fund from which you sold shares for the purpose of the wire or electronic bank transfer transaction. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order.

For further information about redemption transactions, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Redemption Fees

The Funds each charge a 2% redemption fee on shares redeemed before they have been held for two months. The fee applies if you redeem shares by selling or by exchanging to another Vanguard fund, or if Vanguard liquidates your Fund account because the balance falls below the minimum initial investment for any reason, including market fluctuation. The fee is withheld from redemption proceeds and is paid directly to the Fund. Shares held for two months or more are not subject to the redemption fee.

In an effort to reduce or eliminate the redemption fees you pay, if you redeem less than your full investment in the Fund, we will first redeem those shares not subject to the fee (see below), followed by those shares you have held the longest.

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Redemption fees will not apply to Vanguard fund account redemptions in the following circumstances: (1) redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees; redemptions of shares to revoke an IRA within the period of time set forth in the Vanguard Traditional and Roth IRA Disclosure Document or to remove excess shareholder contributions to an IRA; and redemptions from Section 529 college savings plans; (2) share transfers, rollovers, or reregistrations within the same fund; (3) conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund; (4) redemptions in kind; and (5) for a one-year period, shares rolled over to an IRA held at Vanguard from a retirement plan for which Vanguard serves as recordkeeper.*

In addition, redemption fees will not apply to (1) distributions by shareholders age 70½ or older from traditional IRAs, rollover IRAs, SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Individual Section 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans; and (2) distributions by beneficiaries from inherited IRAs, certain Individual Section 403(b)(7) Custodial Accounts, and Vanguard Individual 401(k) Plans.

Also, participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans* will not incur redemption fees for the following: exchanges of shares purchased with participant payroll or employer contributions; distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan; redemptions or transfers of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan; and direct rollovers into IRAs.

Participants will incur redemption fees if, after making an exchange, transfer, or rollover into a fund with a redemption fee, the participant makes a subsequent exchange out of that fund within the redemption-fee period.

If Vanguard does not serve as recordkeeper for your plan, redemption fees may be applied differently. Please read your recordkeeper’s plan materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply. Also see Frequent-Trading PolicyAccounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of redemption fees by intermediaries.

* The following Vanguard fund accounts will be subject to redemption fees: SEP–IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Section 403(b)(7) accounts, Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, and Vanguard Individual 401K Plans.

Earning Dividends

You generally will continue earning dividends until the first business day following your trade date.

Other Redemption Rules You Should Know

Documentation for certain accounts. Special documentation may be required to redeem from certain types of accounts, such as trust, corporate, nonprofit, or

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retirement accounts. Please call us before attempting to redeem from these types of accounts.

Potentially disruptive redemptions. Vanguard reserves the right to pay all or part of a redemption in kind—that is, in the form of securities—if we reasonably believe that a cash redemption would negatively affect the fund’s operation or performance or that the shareholder may be engaged in market-timing or frequent trading. Under these circumstances, Vanguard also reserves the right to delay payment of the redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. By calling us before you attempt to redeem a large dollar amount, you may avoid in-kind or delayed payment of your redemption. Please see Frequent-Trading Policy for information about Vanguard’s policies to limit frequent trading.

Recently purchased shares. Although you can redeem shares at any time, proceeds may not be made available to you until the fund collects payment for your purchase. This may take up to ten calendar days for shares purchased by check or by electronic bank transfer. If you have written a check on a fund with checkwriting privileges, that check may be rejected if your fund account does not have a sufficient available balance.

Address change. If you change your address online or by telephone, there may be up to a 15-day restriction on your ability to request check redemptions online and by telephone. You can request a redemption in writing at any time. Confirmations of address changes are sent to both the old and new addresses.

Payment to a different person or address. At your request, we can make your redemption check payable, or wire your redemption proceeds, to a different person or send it to a different address. However, this generally requires the written consent of all registered account owners and may require a signature guarantee or a notarized signature. You may obtain a signature guarantee from some commercial or savings banks, credit unions, trust companies, or member firms of a U.S. stock exchange.

No cancellations. Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any redemption request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing a redemption request.

Emergency circumstances. Vanguard funds can postpone payment of redemption proceeds for up to seven calendar days. In addition, Vanguard funds can suspend redemptions and/or postpone payments of redemption proceeds beyond seven calendar days at times when the NYSE is closed or during emergency circumstances, as determined by the SEC.

Exchanging Shares

An exchange occurs when you use the proceeds from the redemption of shares of one Vanguard fund to simultaneously purchase shares of a different Vanguard fund. You can

34


 

make exchange requests online (if you are a registered user of vanguard.com), by telephone, or by mail. See Purchasing Shares and Redeeming Shares.

If the NYSE is open for regular trading (generally until 4 p.m., Eastern time, on a business day) at the time an exchange request is received in good order, the trade date generally will be the same day. See Other Rules You Should Know—Good Order for additional information on all transaction requests.

Vanguard will not accept your request to cancel any exchange request once processing has begun. Please be careful when placing an exchange request.

Please note that Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise or terminate the exchange privilege, limit the amount of any exchange, or reject an exchange, at any time, for any reason.

Frequent-Trading Policy

Because excessive transactions can disrupt management of a fund and increase the fund’s costs for all shareholders, the board of trustees of each Vanguard fund places certain limits on frequent trading in the funds. Each Vanguard fund (other than money market funds and short-term bond funds) limits an investor’s purchases or exchanges into a fund account for 60 calendar days after the investor has redeemed or exchanged out of that fund account. ETF Shares are not subject to these frequent-trading limits. The brokerage firm through which you hold your ETF Shares, however, may place certain limits on your ability to purchase and/or sell ETF Shares over any given period.

For Vanguard Retirement Investment Program pooled plans, the policy applies to exchanges made online or by phone.

The frequent-trading policy does not apply to the following:

• Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

• Transactions through Vanguard’s Automatic Investment Plan, Automatic Exchange Service, Direct Deposit Service, Automatic Withdrawal Plan, Required Minimum Distribution Service, and Vanguard Small Business Online®.

• Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

• Transaction requests submitted by mail to Vanguard from shareholders who hold their accounts directly with Vanguard. (Transaction requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are not mail transactions and are subject to the policy.)

• Transfers and reregistrations of shares within the same fund.

• Purchases of shares by asset transfer or direct rollover.

• Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

35


 

• Checkwriting redemptions.

• Section 529 college savings plans.

• Certain approved institutional portfolios and asset allocation programs, as well as trades made by Vanguard funds that invest in other Vanguard funds. (Please note that shareholders of Vanguard’s funds of funds are subject to the policy.)

For participants in employer-sponsored defined contribution plans,* the frequent-trading policy does not apply to:

• Purchases of shares with participant payroll or employer contributions or loan repayments.

• Purchases of shares with reinvested dividend or capital gains distributions.

• Distributions, loans, and in-service withdrawals from a plan.

• Redemptions of shares as part of a plan termination or at the direction of the plan.

• Automated transactions executed during the first six months of a participant’s enrollment in the Vanguard Managed Account Program.

• Redemptions of shares to pay fund or account fees.

• Share or asset transfers or rollovers.

• Reregistrations of shares.

• Conversions of shares from one share class to another in the same fund.

• Exchange requests submitted by mail to Vanguard. (Exchange requests submitted by fax, if otherwise permitted, are not mail requests and are subject to the policy.)

* The following Vanguard fund accounts are subject to the frequent-trading policy: SEP-IRAs, SIMPLE IRAs, certain Section 403(b)(7) accounts, and Vanguard Retirement Plans for which Vanguard Fiduciary Trust Company serves as trustee.

Accounts Held by Institutions (Other Than Defined Contribution Plans)

Vanguard will systematically monitor for frequent trading in institutional clients’ accounts. If we detect suspicious trading activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action, which may include applying to a client’s accounts the 60-day policy previously described, prohibiting a client’s purchases of fund shares, and/or revoking the client’s exchange privilege.

Accounts Held by Intermediaries

When intermediaries establish accounts in Vanguard funds for the benefit of their clients, we cannot always monitor the trading activity of the individual clients. However, we review trading activity at the intermediary (omnibus) level, and if we detect suspicious activity, we will investigate and take appropriate action. If necessary, Vanguard may prohibit additional purchases of fund shares by an

36


 

intermediary, including for the benefit of certain of the intermediary’s clients. Intermediaries also may monitor their clients’ trading activities with respect to Vanguard funds.

For those Vanguard funds that charge purchase or redemption fees, intermediaries will be asked to assess purchase and redemption fees on client accounts and remit these fees to the funds. The application of purchase and redemption fees and frequent-trading policies may vary among intermediaries. There are no assurances that Vanguard will successfully identify all intermediaries or that intermediaries will properly assess purchase and redemption fees or administer frequent-trading policies. If you invest with Vanguard through an intermediary, please read that firm’s materials carefully to learn of any other rules or fees that may apply.

Other Rules You Should Know

Prospectus and Shareholder Report Mailings

Vanguard attempts to eliminate the unnecessary expense of duplicate mailings by sending just one summary prospectus (or prospectus) and/or shareholder report when two or more shareholders have the same last name and address. You may request individual prospectuses and reports by contacting our Client Services Department in writing, by telephone, or by e-mail.

Vanguard.com

Registration. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can review your account holdings; buy, sell, or exchange shares of most Vanguard funds; and perform most other transactions online. You must register for this service online.

Electronic delivery. Vanguard can deliver your account statements, transaction confirmations, and shareholder reports electronically. If you are a registered user of vanguard.com, you can consent to the electronic delivery of these documents by logging on and changing your mailing preference under “Account Profile.” You can revoke your electronic consent at any time online, and we will begin to send paper copies of these documents within 30 days of receiving your revocation.

Telephone Transactions

Automatic. When we set up your account, we’ll automatically enable you to do business with us by telephone, unless you instruct us otherwise in writing.

Tele-Account®. To conduct account transactions through Vanguard’s automated telephone service, you must first obtain a Personal Identification Number (PIN). Call Tele-Account at 800-662-6273 to obtain a PIN.

37


 

Proof of a caller’s authority. We reserve the right to refuse a telephone request if the caller is unable to provide the requested information or if we reasonably believe that the caller is not an individual authorized to act on the account. Before we allow a caller to act on an account, we may request the following information:

• Authorization to act on the account (as the account owner or by legal documentation or other means).

• Account registration and address.

• Fund name and account number, if applicable.

• Other information relating to the caller, the account owner, or the account.

Good Order

We reserve the right to reject any transaction instructions that are not in “good order.” Good order generally means that your instructions:

• Are provided by the person(s) authorized in accordance with Vanguard’s policies and procedures to access the account and request transactions.

• Include the fund name and account number.

• Include the amount of the transaction (stated in dollars, shares, or percentage).

Written instructions also must include:

• Signature guarantees or notarized signatures, if required for the type of transaction.

(Call Vanguard for specific requirements.)

• Any supporting documentation that may be required.

The requirements vary among types of accounts and transactions. For more information, consult our website at vanguard.com or see Contacting Vanguard.

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to revise the requirements for good order.

Future Trade-Date Requests

Vanguard does not accept requests to hold a purchase, conversion, redemption, or exchange transaction for a future date. All such requests will receive trade dates as previously described in Purchasing Shares, Converting Shares, and Redeeming Shares. Vanguard reserves the right to return future-dated purchase checks.

Accounts With More Than One Owner

If an account has more than one owner or authorized person, Vanguard generally will accept telephone or online instructions from any one owner or authorized person.

38


 

Responsibility for Fraud

Vanguard will not be responsible for any account losses because of fraud if we reasonably believe that the person transacting business on an account is authorized to do so. Please take precautions to protect yourself from fraud. Keep your account information private, and immediately review any account statements or other information that we provide to you. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately about any transactions or changes to your account that you believe to be unauthorized.

Uncashed Checks

Please cash your distribution or redemption checks promptly. Vanguard will not pay interest on uncashed checks.

Dormant Accounts

If your account has no activity in it for a period of time, Vanguard may be required to transfer it to a state under the state’s abandoned property law.

Unusual Circumstances

If you experience difficulty contacting Vanguard online, by telephone, or by Tele-Account, you can send us your transaction request by regular or express mail. See

Contacting Vanguard for addresses.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

You may purchase or sell shares of most Vanguard funds through a financial intermediary, such as a bank, broker, or investment advisor. Please consult your financial intermediary to determine which, if any, shares are available through that firm and to learn about other rules that may apply.

Please see Frequent-Trading PolicyAccounts Held by Intermediaries for information about the assessment of any purchase or redemption fees and the monitoring of frequent trading for accounts held by intermediaries.

Low-Balance Accounts

Each Fund reserves the right to convert an investor’s Institutional Shares to another share class, as appropriate, if the investor’s fund account balance falls below the minimum initial investment for any reason, including market fluctuation. Any such conversion or redemption will be preceded by written notice to the investor.

Right to Change Policies

In addition to the rights expressly stated elsewhere in this prospectus, Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of

39


 

purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, conversion, service, or privilege at any time; (2) accept initial purchases by telephone; (3) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners, or if Vanguard reasonably believes a fraudulent transaction may occur or has occurred; (4) temporarily freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of the shareholder until Vanguard receives required documentation in good order; (5) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fees charged to a group of shareholders; and (6) redeem an account or suspend account privileges, without the owner’s permission to do so, in cases of threatening conduct or activity Vanguard believes to be suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard reasonably believes they are deemed to be in the best interest of a fund.

Share Classes

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to change the eligibility requirements of its share classes, including the types of clients who are eligible to purchase each share class.

Fund and Account Updates

Confirmation Statements

We will send (or provide online, whichever you prefer) a confirmation of your trade date and the amount of your transaction when you buy, sell, exchange, or convert shares. However, we will not send confirmations reflecting only checkwriting redemptions or the reinvestment of dividend or capital gains distributions. For any month in which you had a checkwriting redemption, a Checkwriting Activity Statement will be sent to you itemizing the checkwriting redemptions for that month. Promptly review each confirmation statement that we provide to you by mail or online. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on a confirmation statement, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Portfolio Summaries

We will send (or provide online, whichever you prefer) quarterly portfolio summaries to help you keep track of your accounts throughout the year. Each summary shows the market value of your account at the close of the statement period, as well as all distributions, purchases, redemptions, exchanges, transfers, and conversions for the current calendar quarter. Promptly review each summary that we provide to you by

40


 

mail or online. It is important that you contact Vanguard immediately with any questions you may have about any transaction reflected on the summary, or Vanguard will consider the transaction properly processed.

Tax Information Statements

For most accounts, we are required to provide annual tax Forms to assist you in preparing your income tax returns. These Forms, which are generally mailed in January, will report the previous year’s dividends, capital gains distributions, proceeds from the sale of shares from taxable accounts, and distributions from IRAs and other retirement plans. Registered users of vanguard.com can also view these Forms online.

Annual and Semiannual Reports

We will send (or provide online, whichever you prefer) reports about Vanguard International Bond Index Funds twice a year, in June and December. These reports include overviews of the financial markets and provide the following specific Fund information:

  • Performance assessments and comparisons with industry benchmarks.
  • Financial statements with listings of Fund holdings.

Portfolio Holdings

We generally post on our website at vanguard.com, in the Portfolio section of each Fund’s Portfolio & Management page, a detailed list of the securities held by the Fund as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter. This list is generally updated within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Vanguard may exclude any portion of these portfolio holdings from publication when deemed in the best interest of the Fund. Please consult the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

41


 

Contacting Vanguard  
 
 
Web  
Vanguard.com For the most complete source of Vanguard news
24 hours a day, 7 days a week For fund, account, and service information
  For most account transactions
  For literature requests
 
Phone  
Vanguard Tele-Account® 800-662-6273 For automated fund and account information
(ON-BOARD) For exchange transactions (subject to limitations)
  Toll-free, 24 hours a day, 7 days a week
Investor Information 800-662-7447 (SHIP) For fund and service information
(Text telephone for people with hearing For literature requests
impairment at 800-749-7273) Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
  Eastern time; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time
Client Services 800-662-2739 (CREW) For account information
(Text telephone for people with hearing For most account transactions
impairment at 800-749-7273) Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8 a.m. to 10 p.m.,
  Eastern time; Saturday, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., Eastern time
Institutional Division For information and services for large institutional investors
888-809-8102 Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 9 p.m.,
  Eastern time
Intermediary Sales Support For information and services for financial intermediaries
800-997-2798 including broker-dealers, trust institutions, insurance
  companies, and financial advisors
  Business hours only: Monday–Friday, 8:30 a.m. to 7 p.m.,
  Eastern time

 

42


 

Vanguard Addresses

Please be sure to use the correct address, depending on your method of delivery. Use of an incorrect address could delay the processing of your transaction.

Regular Mail (Individuals) The Vanguard Group    
  P.O. Box 1110    
  Valley Forge, PA 19482-1110    
Regular Mail (Institutions) The Vanguard Group    
P.O. Box 2900
  Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900    
Registered, Express, or Overnight The Vanguard Group    
  455 Devon Park Drive    
  Wayne, PA 19087-1815    
 
Additional Information      
 
  Newspaper Vanguard CUSIP
  Abbreviation Fund Number Number
Total International Bond Index Fund      
Institutional Shares xx xx xx
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund    
Institutional Shares xx xx xx

 

CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.

43


 

Glossary of Investment Terms

Bond. A debt security (IOU) issued by a corporation, government, or government agency in exchange for the money you lend it. In most instances, the issuer agrees to pay back the loan by a specific date and generally to make regular interest payments until that date.

Capital Gains Distribution. Payment to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Coupon. The interest rate paid by the issuer of a debt security until its maturity. It is expressed as an annual percentage of the face value of the security.

Dividend Distribution. Payment to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund’s investments.

Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its expenses during a fiscal year. The expense ratio includes management expenses (such as advisory fees, account maintenance, reporting, internal accounting, legal, and other administrative expenses); any 12b-1 distribution fees; and “other” expenses (usually fees paid to independent third parties, such as the fund’s custodian and auditor). It does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Face Value. The amount to be paid at a bond’s maturity; also known as the par value or principal.

Fixed Income Security. An investment, such as a bond, representing a debt that must be repaid by a specified date, and on which the borrower must pay a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest.

Float-Adjusted Index. An index that weights its constituent securities based on the value of the constituent securities that are available for public trading, rather than the value of all constituent securities. Some portion of an issuer’s securities may be unavailable for public trading because, for example, those securities are owned by company insiders on a restricted basis or by a government agency. By excluding unavailable securities, float-adjusted indexes can produce a more accurate picture of the returns actually experienced by investors in the measured market.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund’s investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is measured from the inception date.

Investment-Grade Bond. A debt security whose credit quality is considered by independent bond-rating agencies, or through independent analysis conducted by a fund’s advisor, to be sufficient to ensure timely payment of principal and interest under current economic circumstances. Debt securities rated in one of the four

44


 

highest rating categories are considered “investment-grade.” Other debt securities may be considered by an advisor to be investment-grade.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

Passive Management. A low-cost investment strategy in which a mutual fund attempts to track—rather than outperform—a specified market benchmark or “index”; also known as indexing.

Principal. The face value of a debt instrument or the amount of money put into an investment.

Securities. Stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other investments.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund’s net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund’s volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment’s price.

45


 

Institutional Division
P.O. Box 2900
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information If you are a client of Vanguard’s Institutional Division:
 
If you would like more information about Vanguard The Vanguard Group
 
International Bond Index Funds, the following Institutional Investor Information Department
 
documents are available free upon request: P.O. Box 2900
 
  Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900
Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders  
  Telephone: 888-809-8102; Text telephone for people
Additional information about the Funds’ investments  
  with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273
will be available in the Funds’ annual and semiannual  
 
reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will If you are a current Vanguard shareholder and would
 
find a discussion of the market conditions and like information about your account, account
 
investment strategies that significantly affected the transactions, and/or account statements, please call:
 
Funds’ performance during their last fiscal year.  
  Client Services Department
 
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) Telephone: 800-662-2739 (CREW); Text telephone for
 
The SAI provides more detailed information about the Funds people with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273
 
and incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part of)  
  Information Provided by the Securities and
this prospectus.  
  Exchange Commission (SEC)
 
To receive a free copy of the latest annual or semiannual You can review and copy information about the Funds
 
report (once available) or the SAI, or to request additional (including the SAI) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room
 
information about the Funds or other Vanguard funds, in Washington, DC. To find out more about this public
 
please visit vanguard.com or contact us as follows: service, call the SEC at 202-551-8090. Reports and
 
  other information about the Funds are also available in
If you are an individual investor:  
  the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at
The Vanguard Group  
  sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information,
Investor Information Department  
  for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail
P.O. Box 2900  
  address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900  
  Reference Section, Securities and Exchange
Telephone: 800-662-7447 (SHIP); Text telephone for  
  Commission, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
people with hearing impairment: 800-749-7273  

 

© 2012 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.
Pxxx 2012


 

Vanguard International Bond ETFs
 
Prospectus
 
 
 
January 17, 2012
 
 
 
Exchange-traded fund shares that are not individually redeemable and are
listed on NASDAQ
 
Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (ticker)
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund ETF Shares (ticker)
Subject to Completion.
Preliminary Prospectus
Dated October 31, 2011
 
 
 
 
Information contained in this prospectus is subject to completion or amendment.
A registration statement for Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund and
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund has been filed with the
U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective.
ETF Shares of Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund and Vanguard
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund may not be sold, nor may offers
to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective.
This communication shall not constitute an offer to sell, nor shall there be any sale
of these securities in any state in which such offer, solicitation, or sale would be
unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any
such state.
 
 
This is the Funds’ initial prospectus, so it contains no performance data.
 
The Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) has not approved or disapproved these securities or
passed upon the adequacy of this prospectus. Any representation to the contrary is a criminal offense.

 


 

Contents      
 
 
Vanguard ETF Summaries   More on the Funds and ETF Shares 11
Total International Bond ETF 1 The Funds and Vanguard 22
Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF 5 Investment Advisor 22
Investing in Vanguard ETF Shares 9 Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes 24
    Share Price and Market Price 25
    Additional Information 27
    Glossary of Investment Terms 27

 


 

Vanguard Total International Bond ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of investment-grade bonds issued outside of the United States.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees      
(Fees paid directly from your investment)      
 
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales None through Vanguard    
  (Broker fees vary)    
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends None through Vanguard    
  (Broker fees vary)    
 
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses      
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)    
 
Management Expenses   x.xx%  
12b-1 Distribution Fee   None  
Other Expenses   x.xx%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses   0.30 %

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Total International Bond ETF with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invest $10,000 in Total International Bond ETF. This example assumes that Total International Bond ETF Shares provide a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

  1 Year   3 Years
$ 31   $ 97

 

1


 

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund has no operating history and therefore has no portfolio turnover information.

Primary Investment Strategies

The Fund employs a “passive management”—or indexing—investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate ex-USD Float-Adjusted Index (Hedged). This Index represents the universe of global non-U.S. dollar-denominated government, government agency, corporate, and securitized investment-grade fixed-income investments, all with maturities of more than one year.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds securities that, in the aggregate, approximate the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 5 and 10 years.

Primary Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range, like the fluctuations of the overall bond market. The Fund’s performance could be hurt by:

Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Fund because it invests primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of long-term bonds.

Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. Income risk is generally moderate for intermediate-term bond funds, so investors should expect the Fund’s monthly income to fluctuate accordingly.

Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Credit risk should be low for the Fund because it purchases only bonds that are of investment-grade quality.

Call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupons or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond’s call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. For mortgage-backed

2


 

securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk. Call/prepayment risk should be low for the Fund because it invests only a small portion of its assets in callable bonds and mortgage-backed securities.

Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low.

Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign companies, governments, or government agencies. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign companies, governments, or government agencies located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk for the Fund is moderate.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• Total International Bond ETF Shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ and can be bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of a Total International Bond ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy Total International Bond ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although Total International Bond ETF Shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ, it is possible that an active trading market may not develop or be maintained.

• Trading of Total International Bond ETF Shares on NASDAQ may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide “circuit breakers” (which halt trading for a specified period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of Total International Bond ETF may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NASDAQ without first being listed on another exchange or (2) exchange officials deem such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or to protect investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

3


 

Annual Total Returns

The Fund began operations on •, 2012, so performance information is not yet available.

Investment Advisor
The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Portfolio Managers

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You can buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund through a brokerage firm. The firm may charge you a commission to execute the transaction. Unless imposed by your brokerage firm, there is no minimum dollar amount you must invest and no minimum number of shares you must buy. The price you pay or receive for ETF Shares will be the prevailing market price, which may be more or less than the NAV of the shares.

ETF Shares of the Fund cannot be purchased or redeemed directly with the Fund, except by certain authorized broker-dealers. These broker-dealers may purchase and redeem ETF Shares only in large blocks (Creation Units) worth several million dollars. For this Fund, the number of ETF Shares in a Creation Unit is •.

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. A sale of ETF Shares is a taxable event, which means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return. Dividend and capital gain distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale of ETF Shares, may also be subject to state and local income taxes.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

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Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF

Investment Objective

The Fund seeks to track the performance of a benchmark index that measures the investment return of U.S. dollar-denominated bonds issued by governments of emerging market countries.

Fees and Expenses

The following table describes the fees and expenses you may pay if you buy and hold ETF Shares of the Fund.

Shareholder Fees      
(Fees paid directly from your investment)      
 
Transaction Fee on Purchases and Sales None through Vanguard    
  (Broker fees vary)    
Transaction Fee on Reinvested Dividends None through Vanguard    
  (Broker fees vary)    
 
 
Annual Fund Operating Expenses      
(Expenses that you pay each year as a percentage of the value of your investment)    
 
Management Expenses   x.xx%  
12b-1 Distribution Fee   None  
Other Expenses   x.xx%  
Total Annual Fund Operating Expenses   0.35 %

 

Example

The following example is intended to help you compare the cost of investing in Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF with the cost of investing in other funds. It illustrates the hypothetical expenses that you would incur over various periods if you invest $10,000 in Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF. This example assumes that Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares provide a return of 5% a year and that operating expenses remain as stated in the preceding table. The results apply whether or not you redeem your investment at the end of the given period. Although your actual costs may be higher or lower, based on these assumptions your costs would be:

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  1 Year   3 Years
$ 36   $ 113

 

This example does not include the brokerage commissions that you may pay to buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund.

Portfolio Turnover

The Fund has no operating history and therefore has no portfolio turnover information.

Primary Investment Strategies

The Fund employs a “passive management”—or indexing—investment approach designed to track the performance of the Barclays Capital Emerging Markets Sovereign Index (USD). This Index includes U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds that have maturities longer than one year.

The Fund invests by sampling the Index, meaning that it holds a range of securities that, in the aggregate, approximates the full Index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. At least 80% of the Fund’s assets will be invested in bonds held in the Index. The Fund maintains a dollar-weighted average maturity consistent with that of the Index, which generally ranges between 10 and 15 years.

Primary Risks

An investment in the Fund could lose money over short or even long periods. You should expect the Fund’s share price and total return to fluctuate within a wide range, like the fluctuations of the overall bond market. The Fund’s performance could be hurt by

Interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Fund because it invests primarily in intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than are the prices of long-term bonds.

Income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. Income risk should be moderate for the Fund, so investors should expect the Fund’s monthly income to fluctuate accordingly.

Credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline. Credit risk should be moderate for the Fund because it purchases investment-grade and high-yield bonds.

Index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for the Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for the Fund should be low.

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Emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the bonds of governments located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the bonds of governments located in more developed foreign markets.

Country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign governments. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign governments located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.

Because ETF Shares are traded on an exchange, they are subject to additional risks:

• Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ and can be bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Share typically will approximate its net asset value (NAV), there may be times when the market price and the NAV vary significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

• Although Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares are listed for trading on NASDAQ, it is possible that an active trading market may not develop or be maintained.

• Trading of Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares on NASDAQ may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide “circuit breakers” (which halt trading for a specified period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from NASDAQ without first being listed on another exchange or (2) exchange officials deem such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or to protect investors.

An investment in the Fund is not a deposit of a bank and is not insured or guaranteed by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation or any other government agency.

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Annual Total Returns

The Fund began operations on •, 2012, so performance information is not yet available.

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc.

Portfolio Managers

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has co-managed the Fund since its inception in January 2012.

Purchase and Sale of Fund Shares

You can buy and sell ETF Shares of the Fund through a brokerage firm. The firm may charge you a commission to execute the transaction. Unless imposed by your brokerage firm, there is no minimum dollar amount you must invest and no minimum number of shares you must buy. The price you pay or receive for ETF Shares will be the prevailing market price, which may be more or less than the NAV of the shares.

ETF Shares of the Fund cannot be purchased or redeemed directly with the Fund, except by certain authorized broker-dealers. These broker-dealers may purchase and redeem ETF Shares only in large blocks (Creation Units) worth several million dollars. For this Fund, the number of ETF Shares in a Creation Unit is •.

Tax Information

The Fund’s distributions may be taxable as ordinary income or capital gain. A sale of ETF Shares is a taxable event, which means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your federal income tax return. Dividend and capital gain distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale of ETF Shares, may also be subject to state and local income taxes.

Payments to Financial Intermediaries

The Fund and its investment advisor do not pay financial intermediaries for sales of Fund shares.

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Investing in Vanguard ETF® Shares

What Are Vanguard ETF Shares?

Vanguard ETF Shares are an exchange-traded class of shares issued by certain Vanguard mutual funds. ETF Shares represent an interest in the portfolio of stocks or bonds held by the issuing fund. The following ETF Shares are offered through this prospectus:

Vanguard Fund Vanguard ETF Shares Seeks to Track
Total International Bond Index Total International Bond ETF The overall international
    taxable bond market
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Emerging Markets Emerging market
  Government Bond ETF government bonds

 

In addition to ETF Shares, each Fund offers three conventional (not exchange-traded) classes of shares. This prospectus, however, relates only to ETF Shares.

How Are Vanguard ETF Shares Different From Conventional Mutual Fund Shares?

Conventional mutual fund shares are bought from and redeemed with the issuing fund for cash at the net asset value (NAV), typically calculated once a day. ETF Shares, by contrast, cannot be purchased from or redeemed with the issuing fund by an individual investor.

An organized secondary trading market is expected to exist for ETF Shares, unlike conventional mutual fund shares, because ETF Shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange. Investors can purchase and sell ETF Shares on the secondary market through a broker. Secondary-market transactions occur not at NAV, but at market prices that change throughout the day, based on the supply of, and demand for, ETF Shares and on changes in the prices of the fund’s portfolio holdings.

The market price of a fund’s ETF Shares typically will differ somewhat from the NAV of those shares. The difference between market price and NAV is expected to be small most of the time, but in times of extreme market volatility the difference may become significant.

9


 

How Do I Buy and Sell Vanguard ETF Shares?

Individual investors can purchase ETF Shares on the secondary market through a broker. When you buy or sell ETF Shares, your broker may charge a commission. You will also incur the cost of the “bid-ask spread,” which is the difference between the price a dealer will pay for a security and the somewhat higher price at which the dealer will sell the same security. In addition, because secondary-market transactions occur at market prices, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares, and receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares.

Your ownership of ETF Shares will be shown on the records of the broker through which you hold the shares. Vanguard will not have any record of your ownership. Your account information will be maintained by your broker, which will provide you with account statements, confirmations of your purchases and sales of ETF Shares, and tax information. Your broker also will be responsible for distributing income and capital gains distributions and for ensuring that you receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund whose ETF Shares you own. You will receive other services (e.g., dividend reinvestment and average cost information) only if your broker offers these services.

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More on the Funds and ETF Shares

This prospectus describes the primary risks you would face as a Fund shareholder. It is important to keep in mind one of the main axioms of investing: The higher the risk of losing money, the higher the potential reward. The reverse, also, is generally true: The lower the risk, the lower the potential reward. As you consider an investment in any mutual fund, you should take into account your personal tolerance for fluctuations in the securities markets. Look for this symbol throughout the prospectus. It is used to mark detailed information about the more significant risks that you would confront as a Fund shareholder. To highlight terms and concepts important to mutual fund investors, we have provided Plain Talk® explanations along the way. Reading the prospectus will help you decide whether a Fund is the right investment for you. We suggest that you keep this prospectus for future reference.

Share Class Overview

This prospectus offers the Funds’ ETF Shares, an exchange-traded class of shares. A separate prospectus offers the Funds’ Investor Shares and AdmiralTM Shares, which have investment minimums of $3,000 and $10,000, respectively. Another prospectus offers the Funds’ Institutional Shares, which are generally for investors who invest a minimum of $5 million.

All share classes offered by a Fund have the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. However, different share classes have different expenses; as a result, their investment performances will differ.

A Note to Investors

Vanguard ETF Shares can be purchased directly from the issuing Fund only in large blocks (Creation Units) that are expected to be worth several million dollars. Most individual investors, therefore, will not be able to purchase ETF Shares directly from the Fund. Instead, these investors will purchase ETF Shares on the secondary market with the assistance of a broker.

Plain Talk About Costs of Investing
 
Costs are an important consideration in choosing a mutual fund. That’s because
you, as a shareholder, pay a proportionate share of the costs of operating a fund,
plus any transaction costs incurred when the fund buys or sells securities. These
costs can erode a substantial portion of the gross income or the capital
appreciation a fund achieves. Even seemingly small differences in expenses can,
over time, have a dramatic effect on a fund’s performance.

 

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The following sections explain the primary investment strategies and policies that each Fund uses in pursuit of its objective. The Fund’s board of trustees, which oversees the Fund’s management, may change investment strategies or policies in the interest of shareholders without a shareholder vote, unless those strategies or policies are designated as fundamental. Each Fund’s policy of investing at least 80% of its assets in securities that are held in its target index may be changed only upon 60 days’ notice to shareholders. Note that each Fund’s investment objective is not fundamental and my be changed without a shareholder vote.

Market Exposure


Each Fund is subject to interest rate risk, which is the chance that bond prices overall will decline because of rising interest rates. Interest rate risk should be moderate for the Funds because they invest primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds, whose prices are less sensitive to interest rate changes than the prices of long-term bonds.

Although bonds are often thought to be less risky than stocks, there have been periods when bond prices have fallen significantly because of rising interest rates. For instance, prices of long-term bonds fell by almost 48% between December 1976 and September 1981.

To illustrate the relationship between bond prices and interest rates, the following table shows the effect of a 1% and a 2% change (both up and down) in interest rates on the values of three noncallable bonds of different maturities, each with a face value of $1,000.

How Interest Rate Changes Affect the Value of a $1,000 Bond1        
    After a 1%   After a 1%   After a 2%   After a 2%
Type of Bond (Maturity)   Increase   Decrease   Increase   Decrease
Short-Term (2.5 years) $ 977 $ 1,024 $ 954 $ 1,049
Intermediate-Term (10 years)   922   1,086   851   1,180
Long-Term (20 years)   874   1,150   769   1,328
1 Assuming a 4% coupon.                

 

These figures are for illustration only; you should not regard them as an indication of future performance of the bond market as a whole or the Funds in particular.

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Plain Talk About Bonds and Interest Rates
 
As a rule, when interest rates rise, bond prices fall. The opposite is also true:
Bond prices go up when interest rates fall. Why do bond prices and interest rates
move in opposite directions? Let’s assume that you hold a bond offering a 4%
yield. A year later, interest rates are on the rise and bonds of comparable quality
and maturity are offered with a 5% yield. With higher-yielding bonds available,
you would have trouble selling your 4% bond for the price you paid—you would
probably have to lower your asking price. On the other hand, if interest rates were
falling and 3% bonds were being offered, you should be able to sell your 4%
bond for more than you paid.
 
How mortgage-backed securities are different: In general, declining interest rates
will not lift the prices of mortgage-backed securities—such as GNMAs—as much
as the prices of comparable bonds. Why? Because when interest rates fall, the
bond market tends to discount the prices of mortgage-backed securities for
prepayment risk—the possibility that homeowners will refinance their mortgages
at lower rates and cause the bonds to be paid off prior to maturity. In part to
compensate for this prepayment possibility, mortgage-backed securities tend to
offer higher yields than other bonds of comparable credit quality and maturity.

 

Changes in interest rates can affect bond income as well as bond prices.


Each Fund is subject to income risk, which is the chance that the Fund’s income will decline because of falling interest rates. A fund’s income declines when interest rates fall because the fund then must invest in lower-yielding bonds. Income risk is generally moderate for the Funds because they invest primarily in short- and intermediate-term bonds.

Plain Talk About Bond Maturities
 
A bond is issued with a specific maturity date—the date when the issuer must pay
back the bond’s principal (face value). Bond maturities range from less than 1 year
to more than 30 years. Typically, the longer a bond’s maturity, the more price risk
you, as a bond investor, face as interest rates rise—but also the higher yield you
could receive. Longer-term bonds are more suitable for investors willing to take a
greater risk of price fluctuations to get higher and more stable interest income.
Shorter-term bond investors should be willing to accept lower yields and greater
income variability in return for less fluctuation in the value of their investment.

 

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Although falling interest rates tend to strengthen bond prices, they can cause other sorts of problems for bond fund investors—bond calls and prepayments.


Each Fund is subject to call risk, which is the chance that during periods of falling interest rates, issuers of callable bonds may call (redeem) securities with higher coupons or interest rates before their maturity dates. The Fund would then lose any price appreciation above the bond’s call price and would be forced to reinvest the unanticipated proceeds at lower interest rates, resulting in a decline in the Fund’s income. For mortgage-backed securities, this risk is known as prepayment risk.

Because each Fund invests only a small portion of its assets in callable bonds and mortgage-backed securities, call/prepayment risk should be low for each Fund.


Each Fund is subject to credit risk, which is the chance that a bond issuer will fail to pay interest and principal in a timely manner, or that negative perceptions of the issuer’s ability to make such payments will cause the price of that bond to decline.

Although the Total International Bond Index Fund purchases only investment-grade bonds, a bond held by the Fund may be downgraded, causing the Fund to hold securities below investment-grade. If a bond is downgraded below investment-grade, the Fund will generally attempt to sell the bond within a reasonable period of time. If the Fund determines that the bond cannot be sold at a reasonable price, the Fund may hold the bond until a reasonable price for the bond may be obtained.

The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund purchases both investment-grade and below investment-grade bonds. Therefore, its credit risk is higher than that of the Total International Bond Index Fund.

Plain Talk About Credit Quality
 
A bond’s credit-quality rating is an assessment of the issuer’s ability to pay interest
on the bond and, ultimately, to repay the principal. Credit quality is evaluated by one
of the nationally recognized statistical rating organizations (for example, Moody‘s or
Standard & Poor‘s) or through independent analysis conducted by a fund’s advisor.
The lower the rating, the greater the chance—in the rating agency’s or advisor’s
opinion—that the bond issuer will default, or fail to meet its payment obligations.
All things being equal, the lower a bond’s credit rating, the higher its yield should be
to compensate investors for assuming additional risk. Investment-grade bonds are
those rated in one of the four highest ratings categories. A fund may treat an
unrated bond as investment-grade if warranted by the advisor’s analysis.

 

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Each Fund is subject to country/regional risk. Country/regional risk is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by foreign companies, governments, or government agencies. Because the Fund may invest a large portion of its assets in securities of foreign companies, governments, or government agencies located in any one country or region, the Fund’s performance may be hurt disproportionately by the poor performance of its investments in that area. Country/regional risk is especially high in emerging markets.


The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund is subject to emerging markets risk, which is the chance that the bonds of governments located in emerging markets will be substantially more volatile, and substantially less liquid, than the bonds of governments located in more developed foreign markets.


The Total International Bond Index Fund is subject to currency risk. Currency risk is the chance that currency hedging transactions may not perfectly hedge and may eliminate any chance for a fund to benefit from favorable fluctuations in relevant foreign currencies.


The Total International Bond Index Fund is subject to counterparty risk. Counterparty risk is the chance that a counterparty to a derivative contract with the Fund is unable or unwilling to meets its financial obligations.

To a limited extent, the Total International Bond Index Fund is also exposed to event risk, which is the chance that corporate fixed income securities held by the Fund may suffer a substantial decline in credit quality and market value because of a restructuring of the companies that issued the securities, or because of other factors negatively affecting the issuers.

The following summary table is provided to help you distinguish between the Funds and their various risks.

Risks of the Funds          
 
      Call/   Country/
  Income Interest Prepayment Credit Regional
Fund Risk Rate Risk Risk Risk Risk
Total International Bond Index Moderate Moderate Low Low Moderate
Emerging Markets Government          
Bond Index Moderate Moderate Low Moderate High

 

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Plain Talk About International Investing
 
U.S. investors who invest abroad will encounter risks not typically associated
with U.S. companies, because foreign stock and bond markets operate differently
from the U.S. markets. For instance, foreign companies are not subject to the
same accounting, auditing, and financial-reporting standards and practices as
U.S. companies, and their stocks may not be as liquid as those of similar U.S.
firms. In addition, foreign stock exchanges, brokers, and companies generally
have less government supervision and regulation than their counterparts in the
United States. These factors, among others, could negatively affect the returns
U.S. investors receive from foreign investments.

 

Security Selection

Index sampling strategy. Because it would be very expensive and inefficient to buy and sell all bonds held in their target indexes—which is an indexing strategy called “replication”— each Fund uses index “sampling” techniques to select securities. Using sophisticated computer programs, each Fund’s advisor generally selects a representative sample of securities that approximates the full target index in terms of key risk factors and other characteristics. These factors include duration, cash flow, quality, and callability of the underlying bonds. In addition, each Fund keeps industry sector and subsector exposure within tight boundaries relative to its target index. Because the Funds do not hold all the securities in their target indexes, some of the securities (and issuers) that are held will likely be overweighted (or underweighted) compared with the target indexes.


Each Fund is subject to index sampling risk, which is the chance that the securities selected for a Fund, in the aggregate, will not provide investment performance matching that of the Fund’s target index. Index sampling risk for each Fund should be low.

The following table shows the number of bonds in each Fund’s target index, as of .

  Number of Bonds
Fund in Target Index
Total International Bond Index
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index

 

Types of bonds. The Total International Bond Index Fund tracks the Barclays Capital Global Aggregate ex-USD Float-Adjusted Index (Hedged), which represents the universe of global non-U.S. dollar-denominated public, taxable, investment-grade, fixed income securities—including government and corporate, as well as mortgage-

16


 

backed and asset-backed, securities—all with maturities of more than one year. The Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund tracks the Barclays Capital Emerging Markets Sovereign Index (USD), which includes U.S. dollar-denominated emerging market government bonds with maturities of more than one year.

An explanation of the different types of bond follows.

Local currency bonds are denominated in a country’s local currency and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that a Fund owns foreign bonds, it is subject to country/regional risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by governments, government agencies, and companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in the currency of the issuer’s country rather than in U.S. dollars, the investor is exposed to currency risk. For a hedged portfolio, currency risk should be low.

International dollar-denominated bonds are bonds denominated in U.S. dollars and issued by foreign governments, government agencies, and companies. To the extent that a Fund owns foreign bonds, it is subject to country risk, which is the chance that world events—such as political upheaval, financial troubles, or natural disasters—will adversely affect the value of securities issued by governments, government agencies, and companies in foreign countries. In addition, the prices of foreign bonds and the prices of U.S. bonds have, at times, moved in opposite directions. Because the bond’s value is designated in dollars rather than in the currency of the issuer’s country, the investor is not exposed to currency risk; rather, the issuer assumes the risk, usually to attract U.S. investors.

Corporate bonds (non-U.S. issuers) are IOUs issued by businesses that want to borrow money for some purpose—often to develop a new product or service, to expand into a new market, or to buy another company. As with other types of bonds, the issuer promises to repay the principal on a specific date and to make interest payments in the meantime. The amount of interest offered depends both on market conditions and on the financial health of the corporation issuing the bonds; a company whose credit rating is not strong will have to offer a higher interest rate to obtain buyers for its bonds. Corporate bonds include securities that are backed by a pool of underlying assets (asset-backed securities) or commercial mortgages (commercial mortgage-backed bonds). The Total International Bond Index Fund expects to purchase only investment-grade corporate bonds.

Mortgage-backed securities represent interests in underlying pools of mortgages.

Unlike ordinary bonds, which generally pay a fixed rate of interest at regular intervals and then repay principal upon maturity, mortgage-backed securities pass through both

17


 

interest and principal from underlying mortgages as part of their regular payments. Because the mortgages underlying the securities can be prepaid at any time by homeowners or by corporate borrowers, mortgage-backed securities are subject to prepayment risk.

Other Investment Policies and Risks

Each Fund will invest at least 80% of its assets in bonds held in its target index. Up to 30% of each Fund’s assets may be used to purchase nonpublic, investment-grade securities, generally referred to as 144A securities, as well as smaller public issues or medium-term notes not included in the index because of the small size of the issue. The vast majority of these securities will have characteristics and risks similar to those in the target indexes. Subject to a 20% limit, the Funds may also purchase other investments that are outside of their target indexes or may hold bonds that, when acquired, were included in the index but subsequently were removed.

Each Fund reserves the right to substitute a different index for the index it currently tracks if the current index is discontinued, if the Fund’s agreement with the sponsor of its target index is terminated, or for any other reason determined in good faith by the Fund’s board of trustees. In any such instance, the substitute index would measure the same general market segment as the current index.


Each Fund may invest in derivatives. In general, derivatives may involve risks different from, and possibly greater than, those of the underlying securities, assets, or market indexes.

Generally speaking, a derivative is a financial contract whose value is based on the value of a financial asset (such as a stock, bond, or currency), a physical asset (such as gold, oil, or wheat), or a market index (such as the Barclays Capital U.S. Aggregate Bond Index). A Fund may invest in derivatives only if the expected risks and rewards of the derivatives are consistent with the investment objective, policies, strategies, and risks of the Fund as disclosed in this prospectus. The advisor will not use derivatives to change the risk exposure of the Fund. In particular, derivatives will be used only when they may help the advisor:

• Invest in eligible asset classes with greater efficiency and lower cost than is possible through direct investment;

• Add value when these instruments are attractively priced;

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  • Adjust sensitivity to changes in interest rates; or
  • In the case of the Total International Bond Index Fund, hedge currency risk.

The Funds‘ derivative investments may include fixed income futures contracts, fixed income options, interest rate swaps, total return swaps, credit default swaps, or other derivatives. Losses (or gains) involving futures contracts can sometimes be substantial—in part because a relatively small price movement in a futures contract may result in an immediate and substantial loss (or gain) for a fund. Similar risks exist for other types of derivatives.

Plain Talk About Derivatives
 
Derivatives can take many forms. Some forms of derivatives, such as exchange-
traded futures and options on securities, commodities, or indexes, have been
trading on regulated exchanges for decades. These types of derivatives are
standardized contracts that can easily be bought and sold, and whose market
values are determined and published daily. Nonstandardized derivatives (such as
swap agreements), on the other hand, tend to be more specialized or complex,
and may be harder to value.

 

Cash Management

Each Fund’s daily cash balance may be invested in one or more Vanguard CMT Funds, which are very low-cost money market funds. When investing in a Vanguard CMT Fund, each Fund bears its proportionate share of the at-cost expenses of the CMT Fund in which it invests.

Temporary Investment Measures

Each Fund may temporarily depart from its normal investment policies and strategies when doing so is believed to be in the Fund’s best interest, so long as the alternative is consistent with the Fund’s investment objective. For instance, the Fund may invest beyond the normal limits in derivatives or ETFs that are consistent with the Fund’s objective when those instruments are more favorably priced or provide needed liquidity, as might be the case when the Fund receives large cash flows that it cannot prudently invest immediately.

Special Risks of Exchange-Traded Shares


ETF Shares are not individually redeemable. They can be redeemed with the issuing Fund at NAV generally in large blocks known as Creation Units, which would cost millions of dollars to assemble.

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The market price of ETF Shares may differ from NAV. Vanguard ETF Shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange and can be bought and sold on the secondary market at market prices. Although it is expected that the market price of an ETF Share typically will approximate its NAV, there may be times when the market price and the NAV differ significantly. Thus, you may pay more or less than NAV when you buy ETF Shares on the secondary market, and you may receive more or less than NAV when you sell those shares. These discounts and premiums are likely to be greatest during times of market disruption

The market price of ETF Shares, like the price of any exchange-traded security, includes a “bid-ask spread” charged by the exchange specialist and other market-makers that cover the particular security. In times of market disruption, the bid-ask spread can increase significantly, thereby increasing your transaction costs.

Vanguard’s website at vanguard.com shows the previous business day’s closing NAV and closing market price for each Fund’s ETF Shares. The website also discloses, in the Premium/Discount Analysis section of the ETF Shares’ Performance page, how frequently each Fund’s ETF Shares traded at a premium or discount to NAV (based on closing NAVs and market prices) and the magnitudes of such premiums and discounts.


An active trading market may not exist. Although Vanguard ETF Shares are listed on a national securities exchange, it is possible that an active trading market may not develop or be maintained.


Trading may be halted. Trading of Vanguard ETF Shares on an exchange may be halted by the activation of individual or marketwide “circuit breakers” (which halt trading for a specific period of time when the price of a particular security or overall market prices decline by a specified percentage). Trading of ETF Shares may also be halted if (1) the shares are delisted from the listing exchange without first being listed on another exchange or (2) exchange officials determine that such action is appropriate in the interest of a fair and orderly market or to protect investors.

Purchasing and Selling Vanguard ETF Shares on the Secondary Market

You can buy and sell ETF Shares on the secondary market in the same way you buy and sell any other exchange-traded security—through a broker. The broker may charge you a commission to execute the transaction. The price at which you buy or sell ETF Shares (i.e., the market price) may be more or less than the NAV of the shares. Unless imposed by your broker, there is no minimum dollar amount you must invest and no minimum number of ETF Shares you must buy.

A precautionary note to investment companies: For purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, Vanguard ETF Shares are issued by registered investment companies, and the acquisition of such shares by other investment companies is

20


 

subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of that Act, except as permitted by an SEC exemptive order that allows registered investment companies to invest in the issuing funds beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions.

Frequent Trading or Market-Timing

Unlike frequent trading of a Vanguard fund’s conventional (i.e., not exchange-traded) classes of shares, frequent trading of ETF Shares does not disrupt portfolio management, increase the fund’s trading costs, lead to realization of capital gains by the fund, or otherwise harm fund shareholders. The vast majority of trading in ETF Shares occurs on the secondary market. Because these trades do not involve the issuing fund, they do not harm the fund or its shareholders. A few institutional investors are authorized to purchase and redeem ETF Shares directly with the issuing fund. Because these trades are generally effected in-kind (i.e., for securities and not for cash), they do not cause any of the harmful effects to the issuing fund (as previously noted) that may result from frequent cash trades. For these reasons, the board of trustees of each fund that issues ETF Shares has determined that it is not necessary to adopt policies and procedures to detect and deter frequent trading and market-timing of ETF Shares. The broker through which you hold your ETF Shares, however, may place certain limits on your ability to purchase and/or sell ETF Shares over any given period.

Portfolio Holdings

We generally post on our website at vanguard.com, in the Portfolio section of each Fund’s Portfolio & Management page, a detailed list of the securities held by the Fund as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter. This list is generally updated within 30 days after the end of each calendar quarter. Vanguard may exclude any portion of these portfolio holdings from publication when deemed in the best interest of the Fund. Please consult the Fund’s Statement of Additional Information or our website for a description of the policies and procedures that govern disclosure of the Fund’s portfolio holdings.

Turnover Rate

Although the Funds generally seek to invest for the long term, each Fund may sell securities regardless of how long they have been held. Generally, an index fund sells securities in response to redemption requests or to changes in the composition of a target index, or to manage the fund’s duration.

21


 

Plain Talk About Turnover Rate
 
Turnover rate gives an indication of how transaction costs, which are not included
in the fund’s expense ratio, could affect the fund’s future returns. In general, the
greater the volume of buying and selling by the fund, the greater the impact that
dealer markups and other transaction costs will have on its return. Also, funds
with high turnover rates may be more likely to generate capital gains that must be
distributed to shareholders as taxable income.

 

The Funds and Vanguard

Each Fund is a member of The Vanguard Group, a family of more than 170 mutual funds holding assets of approximately $1.6 trillion. All of the funds that are members of The Vanguard Group (other than funds of funds) share in the expenses associated with administrative services and business operations, such as personnel, office space, equipment, and advertising.

Vanguard also provides marketing services to the funds. Although shareholders do not pay sales commissions or 12b-1 distribution fees, each fund (other than a fund of funds) or each share class of a fund (in the case of a fund with multiple share classes) pays its allocated share of The Vanguard Group’s marketing costs.

Plain Talk About Vanguard’s Unique Corporate Structure
 
The Vanguard Group is truly a mutual mutual fund company. It is owned jointly by
the funds it oversees and thus indirectly by the shareholders in those funds.
Most other mutual funds are operated by management companies that may be
owned by one person, by a private group of individuals, or by public investors
who own the management company’s stock. The management fees charged by
these companies include a profit component over and above the companies’ cost
of providing services. By contrast, Vanguard provides services to its member
funds on an at-cost basis, with no profit component, which helps to keep the
funds’ expenses low.

 

Investment Advisor

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard), P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482, which began operations in 1975, serves as advisor to the Funds through its Fixed Income Group. As of •, Vanguard served as advisor for approximately $• trillion in assets. Vanguard manages the Funds on an at-cost basis, subject to the supervision and oversight of the trustees and officers of the Funds.

22


 

For a discussion of why the board of trustees approved each Fund’s investment advisory arrangement, see the semiannual report to shareholders covering the fiscal period ended April 30, 2012, which will be available 60 days after that date.

Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group is overseen by:

George U. Sauter, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Vanguard. As Chief Investment Officer, he is responsible for the oversight of Vanguard’s Quantitative Equity and Fixed Income Groups. The investments managed by these two groups include active quantitative equity funds, equity index funds, active bond funds, index bond funds, stable value portfolios, and money market funds. Since joining Vanguard in 1987, Mr. Sauter has been a key contributor to the development of Vanguard’s stock indexing and active quantitative equity investment strategies. He received his A.B. in Economics from Dartmouth College and an M.B.A. in Finance from the University of Chicago.

Robert F. Auwaerter, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Fixed Income Group. He has direct oversight responsibility for all money market funds, bond funds, and stable value portfolios managed by the Fixed Income Group. He has managed investment portfolios since 1978 and has been with Vanguard since 1981. He received his B.S. in Finance from The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania and an M.B.A. from Northwestern University.

Kenneth E. Volpert, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Taxable Bond Group. He has direct oversight responsibility for all taxable bond funds managed by the Fixed Income Group. He has managed investment portfolios since 1982 and has been with Vanguard since 1992. He received his B.S. from the University of Illinois and an M.B.A. from the University of Chicago.

The managers primarily responsible for the day-to-day management of the Funds are:

Gregory Davis, CFA, Principal of Vanguard and head of Vanguard’s Bond Index Group. He has worked in investment management for Vanguard since 1999; has managed investment portfolios since 2000; and has co-managed the Funds since their inceptions in January 2012. Education: B.S., The Pennsylvania State University; M.B.A., The Wharton School of the University of Pennsylvania.

Yan Pu, CFA, Portfolio Manager. She has worked in investment management for Vanguard since 2004; has managed investment portfolios since 2007; and has co-managed the Funds since their inceptions in January 2012. Education: B.S, JiNan University; MBA, Drexel University.

The Statement of Additional Information provides information about each portfolio manager’s compensation, other accounts under management, and ownership of shares of the Funds.

23


 

Dividends, Capital Gains, and Taxes

Fund Distributions

Each Fund distributes to shareholders virtually all of its net income (interest less expenses) as well as any net capital gains realized from the sale of its holdings. For holders of the Fund’s ETF Shares, income dividends are declared • and distributed •. Capital gains distributions generally occur annually in •.

Plain Talk About Distributions
 
As a shareholder, you are entitled to your portion of a fund’s income from interest
as well as capital gains from the fund’s sale of investments. Income consists of
interest the fund earns from its money market and bond investments. Capital
gains are realized whenever the fund sells securities for higher prices than it paid
for them. These capital gains are either short-term or long-term, depending on
whether the fund held the securities for one year or less or for more than one year.

 

Reinvestment of Distributions

In order to reinvest dividend and capital gains distributions, investors in a Fund’s ETF Shares must hold their shares at a broker that offers a reinvestment service (either the broker’s own service or a service made available by a third party, such as the broker’s outside clearing firm or the Depository Trust Company (DTC)). If a reinvestment service is available, distributions of income and capital gains can automatically be reinvested in additional whole and fractional ETF Shares of the Fund. If a reinvestment service is not available, investors would receive their distributions in cash. To determine whether a reinvestment service is available and whether there is a commission or other charge for using this service, consult your broker.

As with all exchange-traded funds, reinvestment of dividend and capital gains distributions in additional ETF Shares will occur four business days or more after the ex-dividend date (the date when a distribution of dividends or capital gains is deducted from the price of a Fund’s shares). The exact number of days depends on your broker. During that time, the amount of your distribution will not be invested in the Fund and therefore will not share in the Fund’s income, gains, and losses.

Basic Tax Points

Investors in taxable accounts should be aware of the following basic federal income tax points:

• Distributions are taxable to you whether or not you reinvest these amounts in additional ETF Shares.

24


 

• Distributions declared in December—if paid to you by the end of January—are taxable as if received in December.

• Any dividend and short-term capital gain distributions that you receive are taxable to you as ordinary income.

• Any distributions of net long-term capital gains are taxable to you as long-term capital gains, no matter how long you’ve owned ETF Shares.

• Capital gains distributions may vary considerably from year to year as a result of the Funds‘ normal investment activities and cash flows.

• A sale of ETF Shares is a taxable event. This means that you may have a capital gain to report as income, or a capital loss to report as a deduction, when you complete your tax return.

Dividend and capital gains distributions that you receive, as well as your gains or losses from any sale of ETF Shares, may be subject to state and local income taxes.

The Funds may be subject to foreign taxes or foreign tax withholding on dividends, interest, and some capital gains that the Fund receives on foreign securities. You may qualify for an offsetting credit or deduction under U.S. tax laws for any amount designated as your portion of the Fund’s foreign tax obligations, provided that you meet certain requirements. See your tax advisor or IRS publications for more information

This prospectus provides general tax information only. If you are investing through a tax-deferred retirement account, such as an IRA, special tax rules apply. Please consult your tax advisor for detailed information about any tax consequences for you.

Share Price and Market Price

Share price, also known as net asset value (NAV), is calculated each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange, generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. Each share class has its own NAV, which is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, allocated to each share class by the number of Fund shares outstanding for that class. On holidays or other days when the Exchange is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Funds do not transact purchase or redemption requests. However, on those days the value of the Fund’s assets may be affected to the extent that the Funds hold foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open.

Remember: If you buy or sell ETF Shares on the secondary market, you will pay or receive the market price, which may be higher or lower than NAV. Your transaction will be priced at NAV only if you purchase or redeem your ETF Shares in Creation Unit blocks.

Debt securities held by a Vanguard fund are valued based on information furnished by an independent pricing service or market quotations. Certain short-term debt

25


 

instruments used to manage a fund’s cash are valued on the basis of amortized cost. The values of any mutual fund shares held by a fund are based on the NAVs of the shares. The values of any ETF or closed-end fund shares held by a fund are based on the market value of the shares.

When a fund determines that pricing-service information or market quotations either are not readily available or do not accurately reflect the value of a security, the security is priced at its fair value (the amount that the owner might reasonably expect to receive upon the current sale of the security). Additionally, a fund also will use fair-value pricing if the value of a security it holds has been materially affected by events occurring before the fund’s pricing time but after the close of the primary markets or exchanges on which the security is traded. This most commonly occurs with foreign securities, which may trade on foreign exchanges or markets that close many hours before the fund’s pricing time. Intervening events might be: company-specific (e.g., earnings report, merger announcement), or country-specific or regional/global (e.g., natural disaster, economic or political news, act of terrorism, interest rate change). Intervening events include price movements in U.S. markets that are deemed to affect the value of foreign securities.

Fair-value prices are determined by Vanguard according to procedures adopted by the board of trustees. When fair-value pricing is employed, the prices of securities used by a fund to calculate the NAV may differ from quoted or published prices for the same securities.

Vanguard’s website will show the previous day’s closing NAV and closing market price for each Fund’s ETF Shares. The previous day’s closing market price may also be published in the business section of major newspapers.

26


 

Additional Information      
 
  Suitable Vanguard CUSIP
  for IRAs Fund Number Number
Total International Bond Index Fund      
ETF Shares Yes xx xx
Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund      
ETF Shares Yes xx xx

 

CFA® is a trademark owned by CFA Institute.

Vanguard ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Barclays Capital. Barclays Capital makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Vanguard ETFs or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in Vanguard ETFs particularly or the ability of the Barclays Capital Index to track general bond market performance. Barclays Capital’s only relationship to Vanguard and Vanguard ETFs is the licensing of the Barclays Capital Index which is determined, composed, and calculated by Barclays Capital without regard to Vanguard or Vanguard ETFs. Barclays Capital has no obligation to take the needs of Vanguard, Vanguard ETFs or the owners of Vanguard ETFs into consideration in determining, composing or calculating the Barclays Capital Index. Barclays Capital is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of Vanguard ETFs to be issued. Barclays Capital has no obligation or liability in connection with the administration, marketing or trading of the Vanguard ETFs.

BARCLAYS CAPITAL SHALL HAVE NO LIABILITY TO THIRD PARTIES FOR THE QUALITY, ACCURACY AND/OR COMPLETENESS OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN OR FOR INTERRUPTIONS IN THE DELIVERY OF THE INDEX. BARCLAYS CAPITAL MAKES NO WARRANTY, EXPRESS OR IMPLIED, AS TO RESULTS TO BE OBTAINED BY OWNERS OF THE VANGUARD ETFS OR ANY OTHER PERSON OR ENTITY FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN IN CONNECTION WITH THE RIGHTS LICENSED HEREUNDER OR FOR ANY OTHER USE. BARCLAYS CAPITAL MAKES NO EXPRESS OR IMPLIED WARRANTIES, AND HEREBY EXPRESSLY DISCLAIMS ALL WARRANTIES OF MERCHANTABILITY OR FITNESS FOR A PARTICULAR PURPOSE OR USE WITH RESPECT TO THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN. BARCLAYS CAPITAL SHALL NOT BE LIABLE FOR ANY DAMAGES, INCLUDING, WITHOUT LIMITATION, ANY INDIRECT OR CONSEQUENTIAL DAMAGES RESULTING FROM THE USE OF THE INDEX OR ANY DATA INCLUDED THEREIN.

Source of index data: Barclays Capital Global Family of Indices. Copyright 2011, Barclays Capital. All rights reserved.

27


 

Glossary of Investment Terms

Active Management. An investment approach that seeks to exceed the average returns of a particular financial market or market segment. Active managers rely on research, market forecasts, and their own judgment and experience in selecting securities to buy and sell.

Authorized Participant. Institutional investors that are permitted to purchase Creation Units directly from, and redeem Creation Units directly with, the issuing fund. To be an Authorized Participant, an entity must be a participant in the Depository Trust Company and must enter into an agreement with the fund’s Distributor.

Bid-Ask Spread. The difference between the price a dealer is willing to pay for a security (the bid price) and the somewhat higher price at which the dealer is willing to sell the same security (the ask price).

Bond. A debt security (IOU) issued by a corporation, government, or government agency in exchange for the money you lend it. In most instances, the issuer agrees to pay back the loan by a specific date and generally to make regular interest payments until that date.

Capital Gains Distribution. Payment to mutual fund shareholders of gains realized on securities that a fund has sold at a profit, minus any realized losses.

Coupon. The interest rate paid by the issuer of a debt security until its maturity. It is expressed as an annual percentage of the face value of the security.

Creation Unit. A large block of a specified number of ETF Shares. Authorized Participants may purchase and redeem ETF Shares from the issuing fund only in Creation Unit-size aggregations.

Dividend Distribution. Payment to mutual fund shareholders of income from interest or dividends generated by a fund’s investments.

Ex-Dividend Date. The date when a distribution of dividends and/or capital gains is deducted from the price of a mutual fund or stock. On the ex-dividend date, the share price drops by the amount of the distribution (plus or minus any market activity).

Expense Ratio. The percentage of a fund’s average net assets used to pay its expenses during a fiscal year. The expense ratio includes management expenses (such as advisory fees, account maintenance, reporting, internal accounting, legal, and other administrative expenses); any 12b-1 distribution fees; and “other” expenses (usually fees paid to independent third parties, such as the fund’s custodian and auditor). It does not include the transaction costs of buying and selling portfolio securities.

Face Value. The amount to be paid at a bond’s maturity; also known as the par value or principal.

28


 

Fixed Income Security. An investment, such as a bond, representing a debt that must be repaid by a specified date, and on which the borrower must pay a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest.

Float-Adjusted Index. An index that weights its constituent securities based on the value of the constituent securities that are available for public trading, rather than the value of all constituent securities. Some portion of an issuer’s securities may be unavailable for public trading because, for example, those securities are owned by company insiders on a restricted basis or by a government agency. By excluding unavailable securities, float-adjusted indexes can produce a more accurate picture of the returns actually experienced by investors in the measured market.

Inception Date. The date on which the assets of a fund (or one of its share classes) are first invested in accordance with the fund’s investment objective. For funds with a subscription period, the inception date is the day after that period ends. Investment performance is measured from the inception date.

Investment-Grade Bond. A debt security whose credit quality is considered by independent bond-rating agencies, or through independent analysis conducted by a fund’s advisor, to be sufficient to ensure timely payment of principal and interest under current economic circumstances. Debt securities rated in one of the four highest rating categories are considered “investment-grade.” Other debt securities may be considered by an advisor to be investment-grade.

Mutual Fund. An investment company that pools the money of many people and invests it in a variety of securities in an effort to achieve a specific objective over time.

Passive Management. A low-cost investment strategy in which a mutual fund attempts to track—rather than outperform—a specified market benchmark or “index”; also known as indexing.

Principal. The face value of a debt instrument or the amount of money put into an investment.

Securities. Stocks, bonds, money market instruments, and other investments.

Total Return. A percentage change, over a specified time period, in a mutual fund’s net asset value, assuming the reinvestment of all distributions of dividends and capital gains.

Volatility. The fluctuations in value of a mutual fund or other security. The greater a fund’s volatility, the wider the fluctuations in its returns.

Yield. Income (interest or dividends) earned by an investment, expressed as a percentage of the investment’s price.

29


 

Institutional Division
P.O. Box 2900
Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900

Connect with Vanguard® > vanguard.com

For More Information To receive a free copy of the latest annual or
If you would like more information about Vanguard semiannual report (once available) or the SAI, or to
International Bond ETFs, the following documents will request additional information about Vanguard ETF
be available free upon request: Shares, please visit vanguard.com or contact us as
  follows:
Annual/Semiannual Reports to Shareholders  
Additional information about the Funds’ investments The Vanguard Group
will be available in the Funds’ annual and semiannual Institutional Investor Information
reports to shareholders. In the annual report, you will P.O. Box 2900
find a discussion of the market conditions and Valley Forge, PA 19482-2900
investment strategies that significantly affected the Telephone: 866-499-8473
Funds’ performance during their last fiscal year.  
  Information Provided by the Securities and
Statement of Additional Information (SAI) Exchange Commission (SEC)
The SAI for the issuing Funds provides more detailed You can review and copy information about the Funds
information about the Funds’ ETF Shares and is (including the SAI) at the SEC’s Public Reference Room
incorporated by reference into (and thus legally a part in Washington, DC. To find out more about this public
of) this prospectus. service, call the SEC at 202-551-8090. Reports and
  other information about the Funds are also available in
  the EDGAR database on the SEC’s Internet site at
  sec.gov, or you can receive copies of this information,
  for a fee, by electronic request at the following e-mail
  address: publicinfo@sec.gov, or by writing the Public
  Reference Section, Securities and Exchange
  Commission, Washington, DC 20549-1520.
 
  Funds’ Investment Company Act file number: 811-22619

 

© 2012 The Vanguard Group, Inc. All rights reserved.
U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,964 B2, 7,337,138.
Vanguard Marketing Corporation, Distributor.
P xxx 2012


 

Subject to Completion

Preliminary Statement of Additional Information

Dated October 31, 2011

Information contained in this Statement of Additional Information is subject to completion or amendment. A registration statement for Vanguard Charlotte Funds has been filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission but has not yet become effective.

Shares of Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund and Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund may not be sold, not may offers to buy be accepted, prior to the time the registration statement becomes effective. This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus.

PART B

VANGUARD® CHARLOTTE FUNDS

STATEMENT OF ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

January 17, 2012

This Statement of Additional Information is not a prospectus but should be read in conjunction with a Fund’s current prospectus (dated January 17, 2012). To obtain, without charge, a prospectus, please contact The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard).

Phone: Investor Information Department at 800-662-7447 Online: vanguard.com

TABLE OF CONTENTS
Description of the Trust B-1
Fundamental Policies B-3
Investment Strategies and Nonfundamental Policies B-4
Share Price B-19
Purchase and Redemption of Shares B-20
Management of the Funds B-21
Investment Advisory Services B-34
Portfolio Transactions B-35
Proxy Voting Guidelines B-36
Information About the ETF Share Class B-41
Financial Statements B-68
Description of Bond Ratings B-69

 

DESCRIPTION OF THE TRUST

Vanguard Charlotte Funds (the Trust) currently offers the following funds and share classes (identified by ticker symbol):

    Share Classes1  
Fund2 Investor Admiral Institutional ETF
Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund
1 Individually a class; collectively the classes.        
2 Individually, a Fund; collectively, the Funds.        

 

The Trust has the ability to offer additional funds or classes of shares. There is no limit on the number of full and fractional shares that may be issued for a single fund or class of shares.

B-1


 

Organization

The Trust was organized as a Delaware statutory trust in 2011. The Trust is registered with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission (the SEC) under the Investment Company Act of 1940 (the 1940 Act) as an open-end management investment company. All Funds within the Trust are classified as non-diversified within the meaning of the 1940 Act.

Service Providers

Custodian. Brown Brother Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109, serves as the Funds‘ custodian. The custodian is responsible for maintaining the Funds‘ assets, keeping all necessary accounts and records of Fund assets, and appointing any foreign sub-custodians or foreign securities depositories.

Independent Registered Public Accounting Firm. PricewaterhouseCoopers LLP, Two Commerce Square, Suite 1700, 2001 Market Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103-7042, serves as the Funds‘ independent registered public accounting firm. The independent registered public accounting firm audits the Funds‘ annual financial statements and provides other related services.

Transfer and Dividend-Paying Agent. The Funds‘ transfer agent and dividend-paying agent is Vanguard, P.O. Box 2600, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

Characteristics of the Fund‘s Shares

Restrictions on Holding or Disposing of Shares. There are no restrictions on the right of shareholders to retain or dispose of a Fund’s shares, other than those described in the Fund’s current prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information. Each Fund or class may be terminated by reorganization into another mutual fund or class or by liquidation and distribution of the assets of the Fund or class. Unless terminated by reorganization or liquidation, each Fund and share class will continue indefinitely.

Shareholder Liability. The Trust is organized under Delaware law, which provides that shareholders of a statutory trust are entitled to the same limitations of personal liability as shareholders of a corporation organized under Delaware law. This means that a shareholder of a Fund generally will not be personally liable for payment of the Fund’s debts. Some state courts, however, may not apply Delaware law on this point. We believe that the possibility of such a situation arising is remote.

Dividend Rights. The shareholders of each class of a Fund are entitled to receive any dividends or other distributions declared by the Fund for each such class. No shares of a Fund have priority or preference over any other shares of the Fund with respect to distributions. Distributions will be made from the assets of the Fund and will be paid ratably to all shareholders of a particular class according to the number of shares of the class held by shareholders on the record date. The amount of dividends per share may vary between separate share classes of the Fund based upon differences in the net asset values of the different classes and differences in the way that expenses are allocated between share classes pursuant to a multiple class plan.

Voting Rights. Shareholders are entitled to vote on a matter if: (1) the matter concerns an amendment to the Declaration of Trust that would adversely affect to a material degree the rights and preferences of the shares of a Fund or any class; (2) the trustees determine that it is necessary or desirable to obtain a shareholder vote; (3) a merger or consolidation, share conversion, share exchange, or sale of assets is proposed and a shareholder vote is required by the 1940 Act to approve the transaction; or (4) a shareholder vote is required under the 1940 Act. The 1940 Act requires a shareholder vote under various circumstances, including to elect or remove trustees upon the written request of shareholders representing 10% or more of a Fund’s net assets, to change any fundamental policy of a Fund, and to enter into certain merger transactions. Unless otherwise required by applicable law, shareholders of a Fund receive one vote for each dollar of net asset value owned on the record date, and a fractional vote for each fractional dollar of net asset value owned on the record date. However, only the shares of the Fund or class affected by a particular matter are entitled to vote on that matter. In addition, each class has exclusive voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders that relates solely to that class, and each class has separate voting rights on any matter submitted to shareholders in which the interests of one class differ from the interests of another. Voting rights are noncumulative and cannot be modified without a majority vote.

B-2


 

Liquidation Rights. In the event that a Fund is liquidated, shareholders will be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the Fund’s net assets. In the event that a class of shares is liquidated, shareholders of that class will be entitled to receive a pro rata share of the Fund’s net assets that are allocated to that class. Shareholders may receive cash, securities, or a combination of the two.

Preemptive Rights. There are no preemptive rights associated with the Funds‘ shares.

Conversion Rights. Shareholders of each Fund may convert their shares into another class of shares of the same Fund upon the satisfaction of any then-applicable eligibility requirements as described in the Fund’s current prospectus. Shareholders may not convert into or out of a Fund’s ETF Shares.

Redemption Provisions. Each Fund’s redemption provisions are described in its current prospectus and elsewhere in this Statement of Additional Information.

Sinking Fund Provisions. The Funds have no sinking fund provisions.

Calls or Assessment. Each Fund’s shares, when issued, are fully paid and non-assessable.

Tax Status of the Funds

Each Fund expects to qualify each year as a “regulated investment company” under Subchapter M of the Internal Revenue Code of 1986, as amended (the IRC). This special tax status means that the Fund will not be liable for federal tax on income and capital gains distributed to shareholders. In order to preserve its tax status, each Fund must comply with certain requirements. If a Fund fails to meet these requirements in any taxable year, it will be subject to tax on its taxable income at corporate rates, and all distributions from earnings and profits, including any distributions of net tax-exempt income and net long-term capital gains, will be taxable to shareholders as ordinary income. In addition, a Fund could be required to recognize unrealized gains, pay substantial taxes and interest, and make substantial distributions before regaining its tax status as a regulated investment company.

FUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

Each Fund is subject to the following fundamental investment policies, which cannot be changed in any material way without the approval of the holders of a majority of the Fund’s shares. For these purposes, a “majority” of shares means shares representing the lesser of: (1) 67% or more of the Fund’s net assets voted, so long as shares representing more than 50% of the Fund’s net assets are present or represented by proxy; or (2) more than 50% of the Fund’s net assets.

Borrowing. Each Fund may borrow money only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Commodities. Each Fund may invest in commodities only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Industry Concentration. Each Fund will not concentrate its investments in the securities of issuers whose principal business activities are in the same industry, except as may be necessary to approximate the composition of its target index.

Loans. Each Fund may make loans to another person only as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

B-3


 

Real Estate. Each Fund may not invest directly in real estate unless it is acquired as a result of ownership of securities or other instruments. This restriction shall not prevent the Fund from investing in securities or other instruments (1) issued by companies that invest, deal, or otherwise engage in transactions in real estate, or (2) backed or secured by real estate or interests in real estate.

Senior Securities. Each Fund may not issue senior securities except as permitted by the 1940 Act or other governing statute, by the Rules thereunder, or by the SEC or other regulatory agency with authority over the Fund.

Underwriting. Each Fund may not act as an underwriter of another issuer’s securities, except to the extent that the Fund may be deemed to be an underwriter within the meaning of the Securities Act of 1933 (the 1933 Act), in connection with the purchase and sale of portfolio securities.

Compliance with the fundamental policies previously described is generally measured at the time the securities are purchased. Unless otherwise required by the 1940 Act (as is the case with borrowing), if a percentage restriction is adhered to at the time the investment is made, a later change in percentage resulting from a change in the market value of assets will not constitute a violation of such restriction. All fundamental policies must comply with applicable regulatory requirements. For more details, see “Investment Strategies and Nonfundamental Policies.”

None of these policies prevents the Funds from having an ownership interest in Vanguard. As a part owner of Vanguard, each Fund may own securities issued by Vanguard, make loans to Vanguard, and contribute to Vanguard’s costs or other financial requirements. See “Management of the Funds” for more information.

INVESTMENT STRATEGIES AND NONFUNDAMENTAL POLICIES

Some of the investment strategies and policies described on the following pages and in each Fund’s prospectus set forth percentage limitations on a Fund’s investment in, or holdings of, certain securities or other assets. Unless otherwise required by law, compliance with these strategies and policies will be determined immediately after the acquisition of such securities or assets by the Fund. Subsequent changes in values, net assets, or other circumstances will not be considered when determining whether the investment complies with the Fund’s investment strategies and policies.

The following investment strategies and policies supplement each Fund’s investment strategies and policies set forth in the prospectus. With respect to the different investments discussed as follows, a Fund may acquire such investments to the extent consistent with its investment strategies and policies.

Asset-Backed Securities. Asset-backed securities are securities that represent a participation in, or are secured by and payable from, pools of underlying assets such as debt securities, bank loans, motor vehicle installment sales contracts, installment loan contracts, leases of various types of real and personal property, receivables from revolving credit (i.e., credit card) agreements, and other categories of receivables. These underlying assets are securitized through the use of trusts and special purpose entities. Payment of interest and repayment of principal on asset-backed securities may be largely dependent upon the cash flows generated by the underlying assets backing the securities and, in certain cases, may be supported by letters of credit, surety bonds, or other credit enhancements. The rate of principal payments on asset-backed securities is related to the rate of principal payments, including prepayments, on the underlying assets. The credit quality of asset-backed securities depends primarily on the quality of the underlying assets, the level of credit support, if any, provided for the securities, and the credit quality of the credit-support provider, if any. The value of asset-backed securities may be affected by the various factors described above and other factors, such as changes in interest rates, the availability of information concerning the pool and its structure, the creditworthiness of the servicing agent for the pool, the originator of the underlying assets, or the entities providing the credit enhancement.

Asset-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate, as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying assets. Prepayments of principal by borrowers or foreclosure or other enforcement action by creditors shorten the term of the underlying assets. The occurrence of prepayments is a function of several factors, such as the level of interest rates, general economic conditions, the location and age of the underlying obligations, and other social and demographic conditions. A fund’s ability to maintain positions in asset-backed securities is affected by the reductions in the principal amount of the underlying assets because of prepayments. A fund’s ability to reinvest prepayments of principal (as well as interest and other distributions and sale proceeds) at a comparable yield is subject to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. The value of asset-backed securities varies with changes in market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of U.S. government securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. In periods of rising

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interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the average life of the underlying securities. Conversely, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of such assets. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, an investor, such as a fund, generally has to reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at lower interest rates than those at which the assets were previously invested. Therefore, asset-backed securities have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other income-bearing securities of comparable maturity.

Because asset-backed securities generally do not have the benefit of a security interest in the underlying assets that is comparable to a mortgage, asset-backed securities present certain additional risks that are not present with mortgage-backed securities. For example, revolving credit receivables are generally unsecured and the debtors on such receivables are entitled to the protection of a number of state and federal consumer credit laws, many of which give debtors the right to set-off certain amounts owed, thereby reducing the balance due. Automobile receivables generally are secured, but by automobiles, rather than by real property. Most issuers of automobile receivables permit loan servicers to retain possession of the underlying assets. If the servicer of a pool of underlying assets sells them to another party, there is the risk that the purchaser could acquire an interest superior to that of holders of the asset-backed securities. In addition, because of the large number of vehicles involved in a typical issue of asset-backed securities and technical requirements under state law, the trustee for the holders of the automobile receivables may not have a proper security interest in the automobiles. Therefore, there is the possibility that recoveries on repossessed collateral may not be available to support payments on these securities.

Borrowing. A fund’s ability to borrow money is limited by its investment policies and limitations, by the 1940 Act, and by applicable exemptions, no-action letters, interpretations, and other pronouncements issued from time to time by the SEC and its staff or any other regulatory authority with jurisdiction. Under the 1940 Act, a fund is required to maintain continuous asset coverage (that is, total assets including borrowings, less liabilities exclusive of borrowings) of 300% of the amount borrowed, with an exception for borrowings not in excess of 5% of the fund’s total assets made for temporary or emergency purposes. Any borrowings for temporary purposes in excess of 5% of the fund’s total assets must maintain continuous asset coverage. If the 300% asset coverage should decline as a result of market fluctuations or for other reasons, a fund may be required to sell some of its portfolio holdings within three days (excluding Sundays and holidays) to reduce the debt and restore the 300% asset coverage, even though it may be disadvantageous from an investment standpoint to sell securities at that time.

Borrowing will tend to exaggerate the effect on net asset value of any increase or decrease in the market value of a fund’s portfolio. Money borrowed will be subject to interest costs that may or may not be recovered by earnings on the securities purchased. A fund also may be required to maintain minimum average balances in connection with a borrowing or to pay a commitment or other fee to maintain a line of credit; either of these requirements would increase the cost of borrowing over the stated interest rate.

The SEC takes the position that transactions that have a leveraging effect on the capital structure of a fund or are economically equivalent to borrowing can be viewed as constituting a form of borrowing by the fund for purposes of the 1940 Act. These transactions can include entering into reverse repurchase agreements; selling securities short (other than short sales “against-the-box”); buying and selling certain derivatives (such as futures contracts); selling (or writing) put and call options; engaging in sale-buybacks; entering into firm-commitment and standby-commitment agreements; engaging in when-issued, delayed-delivery, or forward-commitment transactions; and other similar trading practices. (Additional discussion about a number of these transactions can be found on the following pages.) A borrowing transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund (1) maintains an offsetting financial position; (2) segregates liquid assets (with such liquidity determined by the advisor in accordance with procedures established by the board of trustees) equal (as determined on a daily mark-to-market basis) in value to the fund’s potential economic exposure under the borrowing transaction; or (3) otherwise “covers” the transaction in accordance with applicable SEC guidance (collectively, “covers” the transaction). A fund may have to buy or sell a security at a disadvantageous time or price in order to cover a borrowing transaction. In addition, segregated assets may not be available to satisfy redemptions or for other purposes.

Debt Securities. A debt security, sometimes called a fixed income security, is a security consisting of a certificate or other evidence of a debt (secured or unsecured) on which the issuing company or governmental body promises to pay the holder thereof a fixed, variable, or floating rate of interest for a specified length of time, and to repay the debt on the specified maturity date. Some debt securities, such as zero coupon bonds, do not make regular interest payments but

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are issued at a discount to their principal or maturity value. Debt securities include a variety of fixed income obligations, including, but not limited to, corporate bonds, government securities, municipal securities, convertible securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. Debt securities include investment-grade securities, non-investment-grade securities, and unrated securities. Debt securities are subject to a variety of risks, such as interest rate risk, income risk, call/prepayment risk, inflation risk, credit risk, and (in the case of foreign securities) country risk and currency risk. The reorganization of an issuer under the federal bankruptcy laws may result in the issuer’s debt securities being cancelled without repayment, repaid only in part, or repaid in part or in whole through an exchange thereof for any combination of cash, debt securities, convertible securities, equity securities, or other instruments or rights in respect of the same issuer or a related entity.

Debt Securities — Bank Obligations. Time deposits are non-negotiable deposits maintained in a banking institution for a specified period of time at a stated interest rate. Certificates of deposit are negotiable short-term obligations of commercial banks. Variable rate certificates of deposit are certificates of deposit on which the interest rate is periodically adjusted prior to their stated maturity based upon a specified market rate. As a result of these adjustments, the interest rate on these obligations may be increased or decreased periodically. Frequently, dealers selling variable rate certificates of deposit to a fund will agree to repurchase such instruments, at the fund’s option, at par on or near the coupon dates. The dealers’ obligations to repurchase these instruments are subject to conditions imposed by various dealers; such conditions typically are the continued credit standing of the issuer and the existence of reasonably orderly market conditions. A fund is also able to sell variable rate certificates of deposit on the secondary market. Variable rate certificates of deposit normally carry a higher interest rate than comparable fixed-rate certificates of deposit. A banker’s acceptance is a time draft drawn on a commercial bank by a borrower usually in connection with an international commercial transaction (to finance the import, export, transfer, or storage of goods). The borrower is liable for payment as well as the bank, which unconditionally guarantees to pay the draft at its face amount on the maturity date. Most acceptances have maturities of six months or less and are traded in the secondary markets prior to maturity.

Debt Securities — Commercial Paper. Commercial paper refers to short-term, unsecured promissory notes issued by corporations to finance short-term credit needs, is usually sold on a discount basis, and has a maturity at the time of issuance not exceeding nine months. Commercial paper rated A-1 by Standard & Poor’s has the following characteristics: (1) liquidity ratios are adequate to meet cash requirements; (2) long-term senior debt is rated “A” or better; (3) the issuer has access to at least two additional channels of borrowing; (4) basic earnings and cash flow have an upward trend with allowance made for unusual circumstances; (5) typically, the issuer’s industry is well established and the issuer has a strong position within the industry; and (6) the reliability and quality of management are unquestioned. Relative strength or weakness of the above factors determines whether the issuer’s commercial paper is A-1, A-2, or A-3. The rating Prime-1 is the highest commercial paper rating assigned by Moody’s. Among the factors considered by Moody’s in assigning ratings are the following: (1) evaluation of the management of the issuer; (2) economic evaluation of the issuer’s industry or industries and the appraisal of speculative-type risks that may be inherent in certain areas; (3) evaluation of the issuer’s products in relation to competition and customer acceptance; (4) liquidity; (5) amount and quality of long-term debt; (6) trend of earnings over a period of ten years; (7) financial strength of a parent company and the relationships that exist with the issuer; and (8) recognition by the management of obligations that may be present or may arise as a result of public interest questions and preparations to meet such obligations.

Variable amount master demand notes are demand obligations that permit the investment of fluctuating amounts at varying market rates of interest pursuant to arrangement between the issuer and a commercial bank acting as agent for the payees of such notes, whereby both parties have the right to vary the amount of the outstanding indebtedness on the notes. Because variable amount master demand notes are direct lending arrangements between a lender and a borrower, it is not generally contemplated that such instruments will be traded, and there is no secondary market for these notes, although they are redeemable (and thus immediately repayable by the borrower) at face value, plus accrued interest, at any time. In connection with a fund’s investment in variable amount master demand notes, Vanguard’s investment management staff will monitor, on an ongoing basis, the earning power, cash flow and other liquidity ratios of the issuer, and the borrower’s ability to pay principal and interest on demand.

Debt Securities - Foreign Securities. The Funds will invest a substantial portion of their assets in foreign debt securities. Typically, foreign debt securities debt securities issued by entities organized, domiciled, or with a principal executive office outside the United States, such as foreign corporations and governments. Foreign securities may trade in U.S. or foreign securities markets. Investing in foreign debt securities involves certain special risk considerations that are not typically associated with investing in debt securities of U.S. companies or governments.

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Because foreign issuers are not generally subject to uniform accounting, auditing, and financial reporting standards and practices comparable to those applicable to U.S. issuers, there may be less publicly available information about certain foreign issuers than about U.S. issuers. Evidence of securities ownership may be uncertain in many foreign countries. As a result, there is a risk that a fund’s trade details could be incorrectly or fraudulently entered at the time of the transaction, resulting in a loss to the fund. Securities of foreign issuers are generally less liquid than securities of comparable U.S. issuers. In certain countries, there is less government supervision and regulation of bond markets, bond dealers, and bond issuers than in the United States. In addition, with respect to certain foreign countries, there is the possibility of expropriation or confiscatory taxation, political or social instability, war, terrorism, nationalization, limitations on the removal of funds or other assets, or diplomatic developments that could affect U.S. investments in those countries. Although an advisor will endeavor to achieve most favorable execution costs for a fund’s portfolio transactions in foreign securities under the circumstances, mark-ups (and other transaction costs) are generally higher than those on U.S. securities. In addition, it is expected that the custodian arrangement expenses for a fund that invests primarily in foreign securities will be somewhat greater than the expenses for a fund that invests primarily in domestic securities. Certain foreign governments levy withholding taxes against dividend and interest income from foreign securities. Although in some countries a portion of these taxes is recoverable by the fund, the nonrecovered portion of foreign withholding taxes will reduce the income received from the companies making up a fund.

The value of the foreign securities held by a fund that are not U.S. dollar-denominated may be significantly affected by changes in currency exchange rates. The U.S. dollar value of a foreign security generally decreases when the value of the U.S. dollar rises against the foreign currency in which the security is denominated and tends to increase when the value of the U.S. dollar falls against such currency (as discussed under the heading “Foreign Securities—Foreign Currency Transactions,” a fund may attempt to hedge its currency risks). The Total International Bond Index Fund will hedge local currency risk and the Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund will only hold U.S. dollar-denominated bonds. In addition, the value of fund assets may be affected by losses and other expenses incurred in converting between various currencies in order to purchase and sell foreign securities, and by currency restrictions, exchange control regulation, currency devaluations, and political and economic developments.

Debt Securities - Emerging Market Risk. Investing in emerging market countries involves certain risks not typically associated with investing in the United States, and imposes risks greater than, or in addition to, risks of investing in more developed foreign countries. These risks include, but are not limited to, the following: greater risks of nationalization or expropriation of assets or confiscatory taxation; greater social, economic, and political uncertainty and instability (including amplified risk of war and terrorism); more substantial government involvement in the economy; less government supervision and regulation of the securities markets and participants in those markets; controls on foreign investment and limitations on repatriation of invested capital; the fact that companies in emerging market countries may be smaller, less seasoned, and newly organized companies; the difference in, or lack of, auditing and financial reporting standards, which may result in unavailability of material information about issuers; the risk that it may be more difficult to obtain and/or enforce a judgment in a court outside the United States; and greater price volatility, substantially less liquidity, and significantly smaller market capitalization of bond markets. Also, any change in the leadership or politics of emerging market countries, or the countries that exercise a significant influence over those countries, may halt the expansion of or reverse the liberalization of foreign investment policies now occurring and adversely affect existing investment opportunities. Furthermore, high rates of inflation and rapid fluctuations in inflation rates have had, and may continue to have, negative effects on the economies and bond markets of certain emerging market countries.

Debt Securities — Non-Investment-Grade Securities. Non-investment-grade securities, also referred to as “high-yield securities” or “junk bonds,” are debt securities that are rated lower than the four highest rating categories by a nationally recognized statistical rating organization (for example, lower than Baa3 by Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.) or are determined to be of comparable quality by the fund’s advisor. These securities are generally considered to be, on balance, predominantly speculative with respect to capacity to pay interest and repay principal in accordance with the terms of the obligation and will generally involve more credit risk than securities in the investment-grade categories. Non-investment-grade securities generally provide greater income and opportunity for capital appreciation than higher quality securities, but they also typically entail greater price volatility and principal and income risk.

Analysis of the creditworthiness of issuers of high-yield securities may be more complex than for issuers of investment-grade securities. Thus, reliance on credit ratings in making investment decisions entails greater risks for high-yield securities than for investment-grade debt securities. The success of a fund’s advisor in managing high-yield securities is more dependent upon its own credit analysis than is the case with investment-grade securities.

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Some high-yield securities are issued by governments of countries with weak and/or highly cyclical economies. Therefore, the risk associated with acquiring the securities of such issuers generally is greater than is the case with investment-grade securities. Some high-yield securities were once rated as investment-grade but have been downgraded to junk-bond status because of financial difficulties experienced by their issuers.

The market values of high-yield securities tend to reflect individual issuer developments to a greater extent than do investment-grade securities, which in general react to fluctuations in the general level of interest rates. High-yield securities also tend to be more sensitive to economic conditions than are investment-grade securities. A projection of an economic downturn or of a sustained period of rising interest rates, for example, could cause a decline in junk-bond prices because the advent of a recession could lessen the ability of the issuer to make principal and interest payments on its debt securities. If an issuer of high-yield securities defaults, in addition to risking payment of all or a portion of interest and principal, a fund investing in such securities may incur additional expenses to seek recovery.

The secondary market for high-yield securities may be less liquid than the market for investment-grade securities. Less liquidity in the secondary market could cause a fund to incur higher transaction costs when buying a high-yield security, which would negatively affect the value of the fund’s shares. Less liquidity also could make it more difficult for a fund to buy or sell a high-yield security, or to value such a security for purposes of calculating the fund’s net asset value.

Except as otherwise provided in a fund’s prospectus, if a credit-rating agency changes the rating of a portfolio security held by a fund, the fund may retain the portfolio security if the advisor deems it in the best interests of shareholders.

Debt Securities — Zero-Coupon and Pay-in-Kind Securities. Zero-coupon and pay-in-kind securities are debt securities that do not make regular cash interest payments. Zero-coupon securities generally do not pay interest. Pay-in-kind securities pay interest through the issuance of additional securities. These securities are generally issued at a discount to their principal or maturity value. Because such securities do not pay current cash income, the price of these securities can be volatile when interest rates fluctuate. Although these securities do not pay current cash income, federal income tax law requires the holders of zero-coupon and pay-in-kind securities to include in income each year the portion of the original issue discount and other non-cash income on such securities accrued during that year. Each fund that holds such securities intends to pass along such interest as a component of the fund’s distributions of net investment income.

Derivatives. A derivative is a financial instrument that has a value that is based on—or “derived from”—the values of other assets, reference rates, or indexes. Derivatives may relate to a wide variety of underlying references, such as commodities, stocks, bonds, interest rates, currency exchange rates, and related indexes. Derivatives include futures contracts and options on futures contracts, forward-commitment transactions, options on securities, caps, floors, collars, swap agreements, and other financial instruments. Some derivatives, such as futures contracts and certain options, are traded on U.S. commodity and securities exchanges, while other derivatives, such as swap agreements, are privately negotiated and entered into in the over-the-counter (OTC) market. The risks associated with the use of derivatives are different from, and possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities, assets, or market indexes on which the derivatives are based. Derivatives are used by some investors for speculative purposes. Derivatives also may be used for a variety of purposes that do not constitute speculation, such as hedging, risk management, seeking to stay fully invested, seeking to reduce transaction costs, seeking to simulate an investment in equity or debt securities or other investments, seeking to add value by using derivatives to more efficiently implement portfolio positions when derivatives are favorably priced relative to equity or debt securities or other investments, and for other purposes. There is no assurance that any derivatives strategy used by a fund’s advisor will succeed.

The counterparties to the funds’ derivatives will not be considered the issuers thereof for purposes of certain provisions of the 1940 Act and the IRC, although such derivatives may qualify as securities or investments under such laws. The funds’ advisors, however, will monitor and adjust, as appropriate, the funds’ credit risk exposure to derivative counterparties.

Derivative products are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques and risk analyses different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of a derivative requires an understanding not only of the underlying instrument but also of the derivative itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the derivative under all possible market conditions.

The use of OTC derivatives generally involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the other party to the contract (usually referred to as a “counterparty”) or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the contract. Additionally, the use of credit derivatives

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can result in losses if a fund’s advisor does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer on which the credit derivative is based.

Derivatives may be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular derivative is difficult to purchase or sell. If a derivative transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid (as is the case with many OTC derivatives), it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price.

Derivatives may be subject to pricing or “basis” risk, which exists when a particular derivative becomes extraordinarily expensive relative to historical prices or the prices of corresponding cash market instruments. Under certain market conditions, it may not be economically feasible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position in time to avoid a loss or take advantage of an opportunity.

Because many derivatives have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the derivative itself. Certain derivatives have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. A fund that enters into a derivative transaction will not be considered to have issued a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

Like most other investments, derivative instruments are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a fund’s interest. A fund bears the risk that its advisor will incorrectly forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other financial or economic factors in establishing derivative positions for the fund. If the advisor attempts to use a derivative as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the derivative will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving derivative instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments. Many derivatives, in particular OTC derivatives, are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to a fund.

Exchange-Traded Funds. A fund may purchase shares of exchange-traded funds (ETFs), including ETF Shares issued by other Vanguard funds. Typically, a fund would purchase ETF shares for the same reason it would purchase (and as an alternative to purchasing) futures contracts: to obtain exposure to all or a portion of the stock or bond market. ETF shares enjoy several advantages over futures. Depending on the market, the holding period, and other factors, ETF shares can be less costly and more tax-efficient than futures. In addition, ETF shares can be purchased for smaller sums, offer exposure to market sectors and styles for which there is no suitable or liquid futures contract, and do not involve leverage.

An investment in an ETF generally presents the same primary risks as an investment in a conventional fund (i.e., one that is not exchange-traded) that has the same investment objective, strategies, and policies. The price of an ETF can fluctuate within a wide range, and a fund could lose money investing in an ETF if the prices of the securities owned by the ETF go down. In addition, ETFs are subject to the following risks that do not apply to conventional funds: (1) the market price of the ETF’s shares may trade at a discount to their net asset value; (2) an active trading market for an ETF’s shares may not develop or be maintained; or (3) trading of an ETF’s shares may be halted if the listing exchange’s officials deem such action appropriate, the shares are de-listed from the exchange, or the activation of market-wide “circuit breakers” (which are tied to large decreases in stock prices) halts stock trading generally.

Most ETFs are investment companies. Therefore, a fund’s purchases of ETF shares generally are subject to the limitations on, and the risks of, a fund’s investments in other investment companies, which are described under the heading “Other Investment Companies.”

Vanguard ETF®* Shares are exchange-traded shares that represent an interest in an investment portfolio held by Vanguard funds. A fund’s investments in Vanguard ETF Shares are also generally subject to the descriptions, limitations, and risks described under the heading “Other Investment Companies,” except as provided by an exemption granted by the SEC that permits registered investment companies to invest in a Vanguard fund that issues ETF Shares beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, subject to certain terms and conditions.

* U.S. Pat. No. 6,879,964 B2; 7,337,138.

Foreign Currency Transactions. The value in U.S. dollars of a fund’s non-dollar-denominated foreign securities may be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations, and

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the fund may incur costs in connection with conversions between various currencies. To seek to minimize the impact of such factors on net asset values, a fund may engage in foreign currency transactions in connection with its investments in foreign securities. A fund will not speculate in foreign currency exchange and will enter into foreign currency transactions only to attempt to “hedge” the currency risk associated with investing in foreign securities. Although such transactions tend to minimize the risk of loss that would result from a decline in the value of the hedged currency, they also may limit any potential gain that might result should the value of such currency increase.

Currency exchange transactions may be conducted either on a spot (i.e., cash) basis at the rate prevailing in the currency exchange market or through forward contracts to purchase or sell foreign currencies. A forward currency contract involves an obligation to purchase or sell a specific currency at a future date, which may be any fixed number of days from the date of the contract agreed upon by the parties, at a price set at the time of the contract. These contracts are entered into with large commercial banks or other currency traders who are participants in the interbank market. Currency exchange transactions also may be effected through the use of swap agreements or other derivatives. Currency exchange transactions may be considered borrowings. A fund that enters into a currency exchange transaction will not be considered to have issued a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

By entering into a forward contract for the purchase or sale of foreign currency involved in underlying security transactions, a fund may be able to protect itself against part or all of the possible loss between trade and settlement dates for that purchase or sale resulting from an adverse change in the relationship between the U.S. dollar and such foreign currency. This practice is sometimes referred to as “transaction hedging.” In addition, when the advisor reasonably believes that a particular foreign currency may suffer a substantial decline against the U.S. dollar, a fund may enter into a forward contract to sell an amount of foreign currency approximating the value of some or all of its portfolio securities denominated in such foreign currency. This practice is sometimes referred to as “portfolio hedging.” Similarly, when the advisor reasonably believes that the U.S. dollar may suffer a substantial decline against a foreign currency, a fund may enter into a forward contract to buy that foreign currency for a fixed dollar amount.

A fund may also attempt to hedge its foreign currency exchange rate risk by engaging in currency futures, options, and “cross-hedge” transactions. In cross-hedge transactions, a fund holding securities denominated in one foreign currency will enter into a forward currency contract to buy or sell a different foreign currency (one that the advisor reasonably believes generally tracks the currency being hedged with regard to price movements). The advisor may select the tracking (or substitute) currency rather than the currency in which the security is denominated for various reasons, including in order to take advantage of pricing or other opportunities presented by the tracking currency or because the market for the tracking currency is more liquid or more efficient. Such cross-hedges are expected to help protect a fund against an increase or decrease in the value of the U.S. dollar against certain foreign currencies.

A fund may hold a portion of its assets in bank deposits denominated in foreign currencies, so as to facilitate investment in foreign securities as well as protect against currency fluctuations and the need to convert such assets into U.S. dollars (thereby also reducing transaction costs). To the extent these monies are converted back into U.S. dollars, the value of the assets so maintained will be affected favorably or unfavorably by changes in foreign currency exchange rates and exchange control regulations.

The forecasting of currency market movement is extremely difficult, and whether any hedging strategy will be successful is highly uncertain. Moreover, it is impossible to forecast with precision the market value of portfolio securities at the expiration of a foreign currency forward contract. Accordingly, a fund may be required to buy or sell additional currency on the spot market (and bear the expense of such transaction) if its advisor’s predictions regarding the movement of foreign currency or securities markets prove inaccurate. In addition, the use of cross-hedging transactions may involve special risks, and may leave a fund in a less advantageous position than if such a hedge had not been established. Because foreign currency forward contracts are privately negotiated transactions, there can be no assurance that a fund will have flexibility to roll-over a foreign currency forward contract upon its expiration if it desires to do so. Additionally, there can be no assurance that the other party to the contract will perform its services thereunder.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts. Futures contracts and options on futures contracts are derivatives. A futures contract is a standardized agreement between two parties to buy or sell at a specific time in the future a specific quantity of a commodity at a specific price. The commodity may consist of an asset, a reference rate, or

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an index. A security futures contract relates to the sale of a specific quantity of shares of a single equity security or a narrow-based securities index. The value of a futures contract tends to increase and decrease in tandem with the value of the underlying commodity. The buyer of a futures contract enters into an agreement to purchase the underlying commodity on the settlement date and is said to be “long” the contract. The seller of a futures contract enters into an agreement to sell the underlying commodity on the settlement date and is said to be “short” the contract. The price at which a futures contract is entered into is established either in the electronic marketplace or by open outcry on the floor of an exchange between exchange members acting as traders or brokers. Open futures contracts can be liquidated or closed out by physical delivery of the underlying commodity or payment of the cash settlement amount on the settlement date, depending on the terms of the particular contract. Some financial futures contracts (such as security futures) provide for physical settlement at maturity. Other financial futures contracts (such as those relating to interest rates, foreign currencies, and broad-based securities indexes) generally provide for cash settlement at maturity. In the case of cash settled futures contracts, the cash settlement amount is equal to the difference between the final settlement price on the last trading day of the contract and the price at which the contract was entered into. Most futures contracts, however, are not held until maturity but instead are “offset” before the settlement date through the establishment of an opposite and equal futures position.

The purchaser or seller of a futures contract is not required to deliver or pay for the underlying commodity unless the contract is held until the settlement date. However, both the purchaser and seller are required to deposit “initial margin” with a futures commission merchant (FCM) when the futures contract is entered into. Initial margin deposits are typically calculated as a percentage of the contract’s market value. If the value of either party’s position declines, that party will be required to make additional “variation margin” payments to settle the change in value on a daily basis. This process is known as “marking-to-market.” A futures transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

An option on a futures contract (or futures option) conveys the right, but not the obligation, to purchase (in the case of a call option) or sell (in the case of a put option) a specific futures contract at a specific price (called the “exercise” or “strike” price) any time before the option expires. The seller of an option is called an option writer. The purchase price of an option is called the premium. The potential loss to an option buyer is limited to the amount of the premium plus transaction costs. This will be the case, for example, if the option is held and not exercised prior to its expiration date. Generally, an option writer sells options with the goal of obtaining the premium paid by the option buyer. If an option sold by an option writer expires without being exercised, the writer retains the full amount of the premium. The option writer, however, has unlimited economic risk because its potential loss, except to the extent offset by the premium received when the option was written, is equal to the amount the option is “in-the-money” at the expiration date. A call option is in-the-money if the value of the underlying futures contract exceeds the exercise price of the option. A put option is in-the-money if the exercise price of the option exceeds the value of the underlying futures contract. Generally, any profit realized by an option buyer represents a loss for the option writer.

A fund that takes the position of a writer of a futures option is required to deposit and maintain initial and variation margin with respect to the option, as previously described in the case of futures contracts. A futures option transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

Each fund intends to comply with Rule 4.5 of the Commodity Futures Trading Commission, under which a mutual fund is conditionally excluded from the definition of the term “commodity pool operator.” A fund will only enter into futures contracts and futures options that are standardized and traded on a U.S. or foreign exchange, board of trade, or similar entity, or quoted on an automated quotation system.

Futures Contracts and Options on Futures Contracts — Risks. The risk of loss in trading futures contracts and in writing futures options can be substantial, because of the low margin deposits required, the extremely high degree of leverage involved in futures and options pricing, and the potential high volatility of the futures markets. As a result, a relatively small price movement in a futures position may result in immediate and substantial loss (or gain) for the investor. For example, if at the time of purchase, 10% of the value of the futures contract is deposited as margin, a subsequent 10% decrease in the value of the futures contract would result in a total loss of the margin deposit, before

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any deduction for the transaction costs, if the account were then closed out. A 15% decrease would result in a loss equal to 150% of the original margin deposit if the contract were closed out. Thus, a purchase or sale of a futures contract, and the writing of a futures option, may result in losses in excess of the amount invested in the position. In the event of adverse price movements, a fund would continue to be required to make daily cash payments to maintain its required margin. In such situations, if the fund has insufficient cash, it may have to sell portfolio securities to meet daily margin requirements (and segregation requirements, if applicable) at a time when it may be disadvantageous to do so. In addition, on the settlement date, a fund may be required to make delivery of the instruments underlying the futures positions it holds.

A fund could suffer losses if it is unable to close out a futures contract or a futures option because of an illiquid secondary market. Futures contracts and futures options may be closed out only on an exchange that provides a secondary market for such products. However, there can be no assurance that a liquid secondary market will exist for any particular futures product at any specific time. Thus, it may not be possible to close a futures or option position. Moreover, most futures exchanges limit the amount of fluctuation permitted in futures contract prices during a single trading day. The daily limit establishes the maximum amount that the price of a futures contract may vary either up or down from the previous day’s settlement price at the end of a trading session. Once the daily limit has been reached in a particular type of contract, no trades may be made on that day at a price beyond that limit. The daily limit governs only price movement during a particular trading day and therefore does not limit potential losses, because the limit may prevent the liquidation of unfavorable positions. Futures contract prices have occasionally moved to the daily limit for several consecutive trading days with little or no trading, thereby preventing prompt liquidation of future positions and subjecting some futures traders to substantial losses. The inability to close futures and options positions also could have an adverse impact on the ability to hedge a portfolio investment or to establish a substitute for a portfolio investment. Treasury futures are generally not subject to such daily limits.

A fund bears the risk that its advisor will incorrectly predict future market trends. If the advisor attempts to use a futures contract or a futures option as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the futures position will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving futures products can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments.

A fund could lose margin payments it has deposited with its FCM, if, for example, the FCM breaches its agreement with the fund or becomes insolvent or goes into bankruptcy. In that event, the fund may be entitled to return of margin owed to it only in proportion to the amount received by the FCM’s other customers, potentially resulting in losses to the fund.

Hybrid Instrument. A hybrid instrument, or hybrid, is an interest in an issuer that combines the characteristics of an equity security, a debt security, a commodity, and/or a derivative. A hybrid may have characteristics that, on the whole, more strongly suggest the existence of a bond, stock, or other traditional investment, but may also have prominent features that are normally associated with a different type of investment. Moreover, hybrid instruments may be treated as a particular type of investment for one regulatory purpose (such as taxation) and may be simultaneously treated as a different type of investment for a different regulatory purpose (such as securities or commodity regulation). Hybrids can be used as an efficient means of pursuing a variety of investment goals, including increased total return, duration management, and currency hedging. Because hybrids combine features of two or more traditional investments, and may involve the use of innovative structures, hybrids present risks that may be similar to, different from, or greater than those associated with traditional investments with similar characteristics.

Examples of hybrid instruments include convertible securities, which combine the investment characteristics of bonds and common stocks; perpetual bonds, which are structured like fixed income securities, have no maturity date, and may be characterized as debt or equity for certain regulatory purposes; and trust preferred securities, which are preferred stocks of a special purpose trust that holds subordinated debt of the corporate parent. Another example of a hybrid is a commodity-linked bond, such as a bond issued by an oil company that pays a small base level of interest with additional interest that accrues in correlation to the extent to which oil prices exceed a certain predetermined level. Such a hybrid would be a combination of a bond and a call option on oil.

In the case of hybrids that are structured like fixed income securities (such as structured notes), the principal amount or interest rate is generally tied (positively or negatively) to the price of some commodity, currency, securities index, interest rate, or other economic factor (each, a benchmark). For some hybrids, the principal amount payable at maturity

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or interest rate may be increased or decreased, depending on changes in the value of the benchmark. Other hybrids do not bear interest or pay dividends. The value of a hybrid or its interest rate may be a multiple of a benchmark and, as a result, may be leveraged and move (up or down) more steeply and rapidly than the benchmark. These benchmarks may be sensitive to economic and political events, such as commodity shortages and currency devaluations, which cannot be readily foreseen by the purchaser of a hybrid. Under certain conditions, the redemption value of a hybrid could be zero. Thus, an investment in a hybrid may entail significant market risks that are not associated with a similar investment in a traditional, U.S. dollar-denominated bond with a fixed principal amount that pays a fixed rate or floating rate of interest. The purchase of hybrids also exposes a fund to the credit risk of the issuer of the hybrids. Depending on the level of a fund’s investment in hybrids, these risks may cause significant fluctuations in the fund’s net asset value.

Certain issuers of hybrid instruments known as structured products may be deemed to be investment companies as defined in the 1940 Act. As a result, the funds’ investments in these products may be subject to the limitations described under the heading “Other Investment Companies.”

Interfund Borrowing and Lending. The SEC has granted an exemption permitting the Vanguard funds to participate in Vanguard’s interfund lending program. This program allows the Vanguard funds to borrow money from and lend money to each other for temporary or emergency purposes. The program is subject to a number of conditions, including, among other things, the requirements that: (1) no fund may borrow or lend money through the program unless it receives a more favorable interest rate than is typically available from a bank for a comparable transaction; (2) no equity, taxable bond, or money market fund may loan money if the loan would cause its aggregate outstanding loans through the program to exceed 5%, 7.5%, or 10%, respectively, of its net assets at the time of the loan; and (3) a fund’s interfund loans to any one fund shall not exceed 5% of the lending fund’s net assets. In addition, a Vanguard fund may participate in the program only if and to the extent that such participation is consistent with the fund’s investment objective and investment policies. The boards of trustees of the Vanguard funds are responsible for overseeing the interfund lending program. Any delay in repayment to a lending fund could result in a lost investment opportunity or additional borrowing costs.

Investing for Control. The Vanguard funds invest in securities and other instruments for the sole purpose of achieving a specific investment objective. As such, they do not seek to acquire enough of a company’s outstanding voting stock to have control over management decisions. The Vanguard funds do not invest for the purpose of controlling a company’s management.

Loan Interests and Direct Debt Instruments. Loan interests and direct debt instruments are interests in amounts owed by a corporate, governmental, or other borrower to lenders or lending syndicates (in the case of loans and loan participations), to suppliers of goods or services (in the case of trade claims or other receivables), or to other parties. These investments involve a risk of loss in case of the default, insolvency, or bankruptcy of the borrower and may offer less legal protection to the purchaser in the event of fraud or misrepresentation, or there may be a requirement that a purchaser supply additional cash to a borrower on demand.

Purchasers of loans and other forms of direct indebtedness depend primarily upon the creditworthiness of the borrower for payment of interest and repayment of principal. If scheduled interest or principal payments are not made, or are not made in a timely manner, the value of the instrument may be adversely affected. Loans that are fully secured provide more protections than unsecured loans in the event of failure to make scheduled interest or principal payments. However, there is no assurance that the liquidation of collateral from a secured loan would satisfy the borrower’s obligation, or that the collateral could be liquidated. Indebtedness of borrowers whose creditworthiness is poor involves substantially greater risks and may be highly speculative. Borrowers that are in bankruptcy or restructuring may never pay off their indebtedness, or may pay only a small fraction of the amount owed. Direct indebtedness of developing countries also involves a risk that the governmental entities responsible for the repayment of the debt may be unable, or unwilling, to pay interest and repay principal when due.

Corporate loans and other forms of direct corporate indebtedness in which a fund may invest generally are made to finance internal growth, mergers, acquisitions, stock repurchases, refinancing of existing debt, leveraged buy-outs, and other corporate activities. A significant portion of the corporate indebtedness purchased by a fund may represent interests in loans or debt made to finance highly leveraged corporate acquisitions, known as “leveraged buy-out” transactions, leveraged recapitalization loans, and other types of acquisition financing. Another portion may also represent loans incurred in restructuring or “work-out” scenarios, including super-priority debtor-in-possession facilities in bankruptcy and acquisition of assets out of bankruptcy. Loans in restructuring or “work-out” scenarios may be especially vulnerable to the inherent uncertainties in restructuring processes. In addition, the highly leveraged capital

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structure of the borrowers in any such transactions, whether acquisition financing or restructuring, may make such loans especially vulnerable to adverse or unusual economic or market conditions.

Loans and other forms of direct indebtedness generally are subject to restrictions on transfer, and only limited opportunities may exist to sell them in secondary markets. As a result, a fund may be unable to sell loans and other forms of direct indebtedness at a time when it may otherwise be desirable to do so or may be able to sell them only at a price that is less than their fair value.

Investments in loans through direct assignment of a financial institution’s interests with respect to a loan may involve additional risks. For example, if a loan is foreclosed, the purchaser could become part owner of any collateral, and would bear the costs and liabilities associated with owning and disposing of the collateral. In addition, it is at least conceivable that under emerging legal theories of lender liability, a purchaser could be held liable as a co-lender. Direct debt instruments may also involve a risk of insolvency of the lending bank or other intermediary.

A loan is often administered by a bank or other financial institution that acts as agent for all holders. The agent administers the terms of the loan, as specified in the loan agreement. Unless the purchaser has direct recourse against the borrower, the purchaser may have to rely on the agent to apply appropriate credit remedies against a borrower under the terms of the loan or other indebtedness. If assets held by the agent for the benefit of a purchaser were determined to be subject to the claims of the agent’s general creditors, the purchaser might incur certain costs and delays in realizing payment on the loan or loan participation and could suffer a loss of principal or interest.

Direct indebtedness may include letters of credit, revolving credit facilities, or other standby financing commitments that obligate purchasers to make additional cash payments on demand. These commitments may have the effect of requiring a purchaser to increase its investment in a borrower at a time when it would not otherwise have done so, even if the borrower’s condition makes it unlikely that the amount will ever be repaid.

A fund’s investment policies will govern the amount of total assets that it may invest in any one issuer or in issuers within the same industry. For purposes of these limitations, a fund generally will treat the borrower as the “issuer” of indebtedness held by the fund. In the case of loan participations where a bank or other lending institution serves as financial intermediary between a fund and the borrower, if the participation does not shift to the fund the direct debtor-creditor relationship with the borrower, SEC interpretations require the fund, in some circumstances, to treat both the lending bank or other lending institution and the borrower as “issuers” for purposes of the fund’s investment policies. Treating a financial intermediary as an issuer of indebtedness may restrict a fund’s ability to invest in indebtedness related to a single financial intermediary, or a group of intermediaries engaged in the same industry, even if the underlying borrowers represent many different companies and industries.

Mortgage-Backed Securities. Mortgage-backed securities are securities that represent direct or indirect participation in, or are collateralized by and payable from, mortgage loans secured by real property or instruments derived from such loans.

Generally, mortgage-backed securities represent interests in pools of mortgage loans assembled for sale to investors by various governmental agencies and private issuers, such as commercial banks, savings and loan institutions, and mortgage bankers. The average maturity of pass-through pools of mortgage-backed securities in which a fund may invest varies with the maturities of the underlying mortgage instruments. In addition, a pool’s average maturity may be shortened by unscheduled payments on the underlying mortgages. Factors affecting mortgage prepayments include the level of interest rates, general economic and social conditions, the location of the mortgaged property, and the age of the mortgage. Because prepayment rates of individual mortgage pools vary widely, the average life of a particular pool cannot be predicted accurately.

Mortgage-backed securities may be classified as private, government, or government-related, depending on the issuer or guarantor. Private, government, or government-related entities may create mortgage loan pools offering pass-through investments. The mortgages underlying these securities may be alternative mortgage instruments, that is, mortgage instruments whose principal or interest payments may vary or whose terms to maturity may be shorter than customary.

Mortgage-backed securities are often subject to more rapid repayment than their stated maturity date would indicate as a result of the pass-through of prepayments of principal on the underlying loans. Prepayments of principal by mortgagors or mortgage foreclosures shorten the term of the mortgage pool underlying the mortgage-backed security. A fund’s ability to maintain positions in mortgage-backed securities is affected by the reductions in the principal amount of such securities resulting from prepayments. A fund’s ability to reinvest prepayments of principal at comparable yield is subject

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to generally prevailing interest rates at that time. The values of mortgage-backed securities vary with changes in market interest rates generally and the differentials in yields among various kinds of government securities, mortgage-backed securities, and asset-backed securities. In periods of rising interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to decrease, thereby lengthening the average life of a pool of mortgages supporting a mortgage-backed security. Conversely, in periods of falling interest rates, the rate of prepayment tends to increase, thereby shortening the average life of such a pool. Because prepayments of principal generally occur when interest rates are declining, an investor, such as a fund, generally has to reinvest the proceeds of such prepayments at lower interest rates than those at which its assets were previously invested. Therefore, mortgage-backed securities have less potential for capital appreciation in periods of falling interest rates than other income-bearing securities of comparable maturity.

Options. An option is a derivative. An option on a security (or index) is a contract that gives the holder of the option, in return for the payment of a “premium,” the right, but not the obligation, to buy from (in the case of a call option) or sell to (in the case of a put option) the writer of the option the security underlying the option (or the cash value of the index) at a specified exercise price prior to the expiration date of the option. The writer of an option on a security has the obligation upon exercise of the option (1) to deliver the underlying security upon payment of the exercise price (in the case of a call option) or (2) to pay the exercise price upon delivery of the underlying security (in the case of a put option). The writer of an option on an index has the obligation upon exercise of the option to pay an amount equal to the cash value of the index minus the exercise price, multiplied by the specified multiplier for the index option. The multiplier for an index option determines the size of the investment position the option represents. Unlike exchange-traded options, which are standardized with respect to the underlying instrument, expiration date, contract size, and strike price, the terms of OTC options (options not traded on exchanges) generally are established through negotiation with the other party to the option contract. Although this type of arrangement allows the purchaser or writer greater flexibility to tailor an option to its needs, OTC options generally involve greater credit risk than exchange-traded options, which are guaranteed by the clearing organization of the exchanges where they are traded.

The buyer (or holder) of an option is said to be “long” the option, while the seller (or writer) of an option is said to be “short” the option. A call option grants to the holder the right to buy (and obligates the writer to sell) the underlying security at the strike price. A put option grants to the holder the right to sell (and obligates the writer to buy) the underlying security at the strike price. The purchase price of an option is called the “premium.” The potential loss to an option buyer is limited to the amount of the premium plus transaction costs. This will be the case if the option is held and not exercised prior to its expiration date. Generally, an option writer sells options with the goal of obtaining the premium paid by the option buyer, but that person could also seek to profit from an anticipated rise or decline in option prices. If an option sold by an option writer expires without being exercised, the writer retains the full amount of the premium. The option writer, however, has unlimited economic risk because its potential loss, except to the extent offset by the premium received when the option was written, is equal to the amount the option is “in-the-money” at the expiration date. A call option is in-the-money if the value of the underlying position exceeds the exercise price of the option. A put option is in-the-money if the exercise price of the option exceeds the value of the underlying position. Generally, any profit realized by an option buyer represents a loss for the option writer. The writing of an option will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

If a trading market in particular options were to become unavailable, investors in those options (such as the funds) would be unable to close out their positions until trading resumes, and they may be faced with substantial losses if the value of the underlying instrument moves adversely during that time. Even if the market were to remain available, there may be times when options prices will not maintain their customary or anticipated relationships to the prices of the underlying instruments and related instruments. Lack of investor interest, changes in volatility, or other factors or conditions might adversely affect the liquidity, efficiency, continuity, or even the orderliness of the market for particular options.

A fund bears the risk that its advisor will not accurately predict future market trends. If the advisor attempts to use an option as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the option will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving options can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments. Many

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options, in particular OTC options, are complex and often valued based on subjective factors. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to a fund.

Other Investment Companies. A fund may invest in other investment companies to the extent permitted by applicable law or SEC exemption. Under Section 12(d)(1) of the 1940 Act, a fund generally may invest up to 10% of its assets in shares of investment companies and up to 5% of its assets in any one investment company, as long as no investment represents more than 3% of the voting stock of an acquired investment company. In addition, no funds for which Vanguard acts as an advisor may, in the aggregate, own more than 10% of the voting stock of a closed-end investment company. The 1940 Act and related rules provide certain exemptions from these restrictions. If a fund invests in other investment companies, shareholders will bear not only their proportionate share of the fund’s expenses (including operating expenses and the fees of the advisor), but also, indirectly, the similar expenses of the underlying investment companies. Shareholders would also be exposed to the risks associated not only to the investments of the fund but also to the portfolio investments of the underlying investment companies. Certain types of investment companies, such as closed-end investment companies, issue a fixed number of shares that typically trade on a stock exchange or over-the-counter at a premium or discount to their net asset value. Others are continuously offered at net asset value but also may be traded on the secondary market.

Repurchase Agreements. A repurchase agreement is an agreement under which a fund acquires a fixed income security (generally a security issued by the U.S. government or an agency thereof, a banker’s acceptance, or a certificate of deposit) from a commercial bank, broker, or dealer, and simultaneously agrees to resell such security to the seller at an agreed-upon price and date (normally, the next business day). Because the security purchased constitutes collateral for the repurchase obligation, a repurchase agreement may be considered a loan that is collateralized by the security purchased. The resale price reflects an agreed-upon interest rate effective for the period the instrument is held by a fund and is unrelated to the interest rate on the underlying instrument. In these transactions, the securities acquired by a fund (including accrued interest earned thereon) must have a total value in excess of the value of the repurchase agreement and be held by a custodian bank until repurchased. In addition, the investment advisor will monitor a fund’s repurchase agreement transactions generally and will evaluate the creditworthiness of any bank, broker, or dealer party to a repurchase agreement relating to a fund. The aggregate amount of any such agreements is not limited, except to the extent required by law.

The use of repurchase agreements involves certain risks. One risk is the seller’s ability to pay the agreed-upon repurchase price on the repurchase date. If the seller defaults, the fund may incur costs in disposing of the collateral, which would reduce the amount realized thereon. If the seller seeks relief under the bankruptcy laws, the disposition of the collateral may be delayed or limited. For example, if the other party to the agreement becomes insolvent and subject to liquidation or reorganization under the bankruptcy or other laws, a court may determine that the underlying security is collateral for a loan by the fund not within its control and therefore the realization by the fund on such collateral may be automatically stayed. Finally, it is possible that the fund may not be able to substantiate its interest in the underlying security and may be deemed an unsecured creditor of the other party to the agreement.

Restricted and Illiquid Securities. Illiquid securities are securities that cannot be sold or disposed of in the ordinary course of business within seven business days at approximately the value at which they are being carried on a fund’s books. The SEC generally limits aggregate holdings of illiquid securities by a mutual fund to 15% of its net assets (5% for money market funds). A fund may experience difficulty valuing and selling illiquid securities and in some cases may be unable to value or sell certain illiquid securities for an indefinite period of time. Illiquid securities may include a wide variety of investments, such as: (1) repurchase agreements maturing in more than seven days (unless the agreements have demand/redemption features); (2) OTC options contracts and certain other derivatives (including certain swap agreements); (3) fixed time deposits that are not subject to prepayment or do not provide for withdrawal penalties upon prepayment (other than overnight deposits); (4) loan interests and other direct debt instruments; (5) municipal lease obligations; (6) commercial paper issued pursuant to Section 4(2) of the 1933 Act; and (7) securities whose disposition is restricted under the federal securities laws. Illiquid securities include restricted, privately placed securities that, under the federal securities laws, generally may be resold only to qualified institutional buyers. If a substantial market develops for a restricted security held by a fund, it may be treated as a liquid security, in accordance with procedures and guidelines approved by the board of trustees. This generally includes securities that are unregistered, that can be sold to qualified institutional buyers in accordance with Rule 144A under the 1933 Act, or that are exempt from registration under the 1933 Act, such as commercial paper. Although a fund’s advisor monitors the liquidity of restricted securities,

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the board of trustees oversees and retains ultimate responsibility for the advisor’s liquidity determinations. Several factors that the trustees consider in monitoring these decisions include the valuation of a security; the availability of qualified institutional buyers, brokers, and dealers that trade in the security; and the availability of information about the security’s issuer.

Reverse Repurchase Agreements. In a reverse repurchase agreement, a fund sells a security to another party, such as a bank or broker-dealer, in return for cash and agrees to repurchase that security at an agreed-upon price and time. Under a reverse repurchase agreement, the fund continues to receive any principal and interest payments on the underlying security during the term of the agreement. Reverse repurchase agreements involve the risk that the market value of securities retained by the fund may decline below the repurchase price of the securities sold by the fund that it is obligated to repurchase. A reverse repurchase agreement may be considered a borrowing transaction for purposes of the 1940 Act. A reverse repurchase agreement transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.” A fund will enter into reverse repurchase agreements only with parties whose creditworthiness has been reviewed and found satisfactory by the advisor.

Swap Agreements. A swap agreement is a derivative. A swap agreement is an agreement between two parties (counterparties) to exchange payments at specified dates (periodic payment dates) on the basis of a specified amount (notional amount) with the payments calculated with reference to a specified asset, reference rate, or index.

Examples of swap agreements include, but are not limited to, interest rate swaps, credit default swaps, equity swaps, commodity swaps, foreign currency swaps, index swaps, excess return swaps, and total return swaps. Most swap agreements provide that when the periodic payment dates for both parties are the same, payments are netted, and only the net amount is paid to the counterparty entitled to receive the net payment. Consequently, a fund’s current obligations (or rights) under a swap agreement will generally be equal only to the net amount to be paid or received under the agreement, based on the relative values of the positions held by each counterparty. Swap agreements allow for a wide variety of transactions. For example, fixed rate payments may be exchanged for floating rate payments; U.S. dollar-denominated payments may be exchanged for payments denominated in a different currency; and payments tied to the price of one asset, reference rate, or index may be exchanged for payments tied to the price of another asset, reference rate, or index.

An option on a swap agreement, also called a “swaption,” is an option that gives the buyer the right, but not the obligation, to enter into a swap on a future date in exchange for paying a market-based “premium.” A receiver swaption gives the owner the right to receive the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. A payer swaption gives the owner the right to pay the total return of a specified asset, reference rate, or index. Swaptions also include options that allow an existing swap to be terminated or extended by one of the counterparties.

The use of swap agreements by a fund entails certain risks, which may be different from, or possibly greater than, the risks associated with investing directly in the securities and other investments that are the referenced asset for the swap agreement. Swaps are highly specialized instruments that require investment techniques, risk analyses, and tax planning different from those associated with stocks, bonds, and other traditional investments. The use of a swap requires an understanding not only of the referenced asset, reference rate, or index but also of the swap itself, without the benefit of observing the performance of the swap under all possible market conditions.

Swap agreements may be subject to liquidity risk, which exists when a particular swap is difficult to purchase or sell. If a swap transaction is particularly large or if the relevant market is illiquid (as is the case with many OTC swaps), it may not be possible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position at an advantageous time or price, which may result in significant losses. In addition, swap transactions may be subject to a fund’s limitation on investments in illiquid securities.

Swap agreements may be subject to pricing risk, which exists when a particular swap becomes extraordinarily expensive (or cheap) relative to historical prices or the prices of corresponding cash market instruments. Under certain market conditions, it may not be economically feasible to initiate a transaction or liquidate a position in time to avoid a loss or take advantage of an opportunity or to realize the intrinsic value of the swap agreement.

Because some swap agreements have a leverage component, adverse changes in the value or level of the underlying asset, reference rate, or index can result in a loss substantially greater than the amount invested in the swap itself. Certain swaps have the potential for unlimited loss, regardless of the size of the initial investment. A leveraged swap

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transaction will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by a fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

Like most other investments, swap agreements are subject to the risk that the market value of the instrument will change in a way detrimental to a fund’s interest. A fund bears the risk that its advisor will not accurately forecast future market trends or the values of assets, reference rates, indexes, or other economic factors in establishing swap positions for the fund. If the advisor attempts to use a swap as a hedge against, or as a substitute for, a portfolio investment, the fund will be exposed to the risk that the swap will have or will develop imperfect or no correlation with the portfolio investment. This could cause substantial losses for the fund. Although hedging strategies involving swap instruments can reduce the risk of loss, they can also reduce the opportunity for gain or even result in losses by offsetting favorable price movements in other fund investments. Many swaps, in particular OTC swaps, are complex and often valued subjectively. Improper valuations can result in increased cash payment requirements to counterparties or a loss of value to a fund.

The use of a swap agreement also involves the risk that a loss may be sustained as a result of the insolvency or bankruptcy of the counterparty or the failure of the counterparty to make required payments or otherwise comply with the terms of the agreement. Additionally, the use of credit default swaps can result in losses if a fund’s advisor does not correctly evaluate the creditworthiness of the issuer on which the credit swap is based.

The swaps market is a relatively new market and is largely unregulated. It is possible that developments in the swaps market, including potential government regulation, could adversely affect a fund’s ability to terminate existing swap agreements or to realize amounts to be received under such agreements.

Tax Matters — Federal Tax Treatment of Futures Contracts. A fund generally must recognize for federal income tax purposes, as of the end of each taxable year, any net unrealized gains and losses on certain futures contracts, as well as any gains and losses actually realized during the year. In these cases, any gain or loss recognized with respect to a futures contract is considered to be 60% long-term capital gain or loss and 40% short-term capital gain or loss, without regard to the holding period of the contract. Gains and losses on certain other futures contracts (primarily non-U.S. futures contracts) are not recognized until the contracts are closed and are treated as long-term or short-term, depending on the holding period of the contract. Sales of futures contracts that are intended to hedge against a change in the value of securities held by a fund may affect the holding period of such securities and, consequently, the nature of the gain or loss on such securities upon disposition. A fund may be required to defer the recognition of losses on one position, such as futures contracts, to the extent of any unrecognized gains on a related offsetting position held by the fund.

In order for a fund to continue to qualify for federal income tax treatment as a regulated investment company, at least 90% of its gross income for a taxable year must be derived from qualifying income—i.e., dividends, interest, income derived from securities loans, gains from the sale of securities or foreign currencies, or other income derived with respect to the fund’s business of investing in securities or currencies. It is anticipated that any net gain recognized on futures contracts will be considered qualifying income for purposes of the 90% requirement.

A fund will distribute to shareholders annually any net capital gains that have been recognized for federal income tax purposes on futures transactions. Such distributions will be combined with distributions of capital gains realized on the fund’s other investments and shareholders will be advised on the nature of the distributions.

Tax Matters — Federal Tax Treatment of Non-U.S. Transactions. Special rules govern the federal income tax treatment of certain transactions denominated in a currency other than the U.S. dollar or determined by reference to the value of one or more currencies other than the U.S. dollar. The types of transactions covered by the special rules include the following: (1) the acquisition of, or becoming the obligor under, a bond or other debt instrument (including, to the extent provided in Treasury regulations, preferred stock); (2) the accruing of certain trade receivables and payables; and (3) the entering into or acquisition of any forward contract, futures contract, option, or similar financial instrument if such instrument is not marked-to-market. The disposition of a currency other than the U.S. dollar by a taxpayer whose functional currency is the U.S. dollar is also treated as a transaction subject to the special currency rules. However, foreign-currency-related regulated futures contracts and non-equity options are generally not subject to the special currency rules if they are or would be treated as sold for their fair market value at year end under the marking-to-market rules applicable to other futures contracts unless an election is made to have such currency rules apply. With respect to transactions covered by the special rules, foreign currency gain or loss is calculated separately from any gain or loss on

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the underlying transaction and is normally taxable as ordinary income or loss. A taxpayer may elect to treat as capital gain or loss foreign currency gain or loss arising from certain identified forward contracts, futures contracts, and options that are capital assets in the hands of the taxpayer and that are not part of a straddle (to the extent the Funds are regarded as holding a tax straddle, its ability to use losses may be delayed). The Treasury Department issued regulations under which certain transactions subject to the special currency rules that are part of a “section 988 hedging transaction” (as defined in the IRC and the Treasury regulations) will be integrated and treated as a single transaction or otherwise treated consistently for purposes of the IRC. Any gain or loss attributable to the foreign currency component of a transaction engaged in by a fund that is not subject to the special currency rules (such as foreign equity investments other than certain preferred stocks) will be treated as capital gain or loss and will not be segregated from the gain or loss on the underlying transaction. It is anticipated that any foreign currency gain will be considered qualifying income for purposes of the 90% requirement discussed in Tax MattersFederal Tax Treatment of Futures Contracts.

Tax Matters — Market Discount. The price of a bond purchased after its original issuance may reflect market discount that, depending on the particular circumstances, may affect the tax character and amount of income required to be recognized by a fund holding the bond. In determining whether a bond is purchased with market discount, certain de minimis rules apply.

Tax Matters — Tax Considerations for Non-U.S. Investors. U.S. withholding and estate taxes may apply to any investments made by non-U.S. investors in Vanguard funds. The American Jobs Creation Act of 2004, as extended by the Emergency Economic Stabilization Act of 2008 and later by the Tax Relief, Unemployment Insurance Reauthorization, and Job Creation Act of 2010, provides relief from U.S. withholding tax for certain properly designated distributions made with respect to a fund’s taxable year beginning prior to 2012, assuming the investor provides valid tax documentation certifying non-U.S. status. The relief is available only in respect to interest earned by the fund from U.S. sources and does not by its terms apply to a fund’s taxable year beginning in or after 2012 unless so extended by Congress. Vanguard will generally apply this relief, where applicable, to fund distributions made to you if you invest directly with Vanguard. If you hold fund shares (including ETF shares) through a broker or intermediary, your broker or intermediary may apply this relief to distributions made to you with respect to those shares. If you broker or intermediary instead collects withholding tax where this relief is applicable, you may be able to reclaim such withholding tax from the IRS. Please consult your tax advisor.

Tax Matters — Use of Information Provided. Please be aware that the U.S. tax information contained in this Statement of Additional Information is not intended or written to be used, and cannot be used, for the purpose of avoiding U.S. tax penalties.

When-Issued, Delayed-Delivery, and Forward-Commitment Transactions. When-issued, delayed-delivery, and forward-commitment transactions involve a commitment to purchase or sell specific securities at a predetermined price or yield in which payment and delivery take place after the customary settlement period for that type of security. Typically, no interest accrues to the purchaser until the security is delivered. When purchasing securities pursuant to one of these transactions, payment for the securities is not required until the delivery date. However, the purchaser assumes the rights and risks of ownership, including the risks of price and yield fluctuations and the risk that the security will not be issued as anticipated. When a fund has sold a security pursuant to one of these transactions, the fund does not participate in further gains or losses with respect to the security. If the other party to a delayed-delivery transaction fails to deliver or pay for the securities, the fund could miss a favorable price or yield opportunity or suffer a loss. A fund may renegotiate a when-issued or forward-commitment transaction and may sell the underlying securities before delivery, which may result in capital gains or losses for the fund. When-issued, delayed-delivery, and forward-commitment transactions will not be considered to constitute the issuance, by a fund, of a “senior security,” as that term is defined in Section 18(g) of the 1940 Act, and therefore such transaction will not be subject to the 300% asset coverage requirement otherwise applicable to borrowings by the fund, if the fund covers the transaction in accordance with the requirements described under the heading “Borrowing.”

SHARE PRICE

Multiple-class funds do not have a single share price. Rather, each class has a share price, called its net asset value, or NAV, that is calculated each business day as of the close of regular trading on the New York Stock Exchange (the Exchange), generally 4 p.m., Eastern time. NAV per share is computed by dividing the total assets, minus liabilities, allocated to each share class by the number of Fund shares outstanding for that class. On holidays or other days when

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the Exchange is closed, the NAV is not calculated, and the Fund does not transact purchase or redemption requests. However, on those days the value of the Fund’s assets may be affected to the extent that the Fund holds foreign securities that trade on foreign markets that are open

The Exchange typically observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday), Good Friday, Memorial Day, Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day. Although each Fund expects the same holidays to be observed in the future, the Exchange may modify its holiday schedule or hours of operation at any time.

PURCHASE AND REDEMPTION OF SHARES

Purchase of Shares (Other Than ETF Shares)

The purchase price of shares of each Fund is the NAV per share next determined after the purchase request is received in good order, as defined in the Fund’s prospectus.

For non-ETF Share purchases, the Total International Bond Index Fund charges a 0.25% purchase fee and the Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund charges a 0.75% purchase fee. The purchase fee is paid to the Fund to reimburse it for the transaction costs incurred from purchasing securities. The fee is deducted from all purchases, including exchanges from other Vanguard funds, but not from reinvested dividends and capital gains.

Redemption of Shares (Other Than ETF Shares)

The redemption price of shares of each Fund is the NAV next determined after the redemption request is received in good order, as defined in the Fund’s prospectus.

Each Fund may suspend redemption privileges or postpone the date of payment for redeemed shares: (1) during any period that the Exchange is closed or trading on the Exchange is restricted as determined by the SEC; (2) during any period when an emergency exists, as defined by the SEC, as a result of which it is not reasonably practicable for the Fund to dispose of securities it owns or to fairly determine the value of its assets; and (3) for such other periods as the SEC may permit.

The Trust has filed a notice of election with the SEC to pay in cash all redemptions requested by any shareholder of record limited in amount during any 90-day period to the lesser of $250,000 or 1% of the net assets of a Fund at the beginning of such period.

If Vanguard determines that it would be detrimental to the best interests of the remaining shareholders of a Fund to make payment wholly or partly in cash, the Fund may pay the redemption price in whole or in part by a distribution in kind of readily marketable securities held by the Fund in lieu of cash in conformity with applicable rules of the SEC. Investors may incur brokerage charges on the sale of such securities received in payment of redemptions.

Each Fund charges a redemption fee of 2% for shares held for less than two months. The redemption fee is paid to the Fund to reimburse the Fund for transaction costs it incurs while liquidating securities in order to meet fund redemptions. Shares redeemed may be worth more or less than what was paid for them, depending on the market value of the securities held by the Funds.

After redeeming shares that are exempt from redemption fees, shares you have held the longest will be redeemed first. Information regarding the application of redemption fees is described more fully in the Funds‘ prospectus.

Right to Change Policies

Vanguard reserves the right, without notice, to (1) alter, add, or discontinue any conditions of purchase (including eligibility requirements), redemption, exchange, conversion, service, or privilege at any time; (2) accept initial purchases by telephone; (3) freeze any account and/or suspend account services if Vanguard has received reasonable notice of a dispute regarding the assets in an account, including notice of a dispute between the registered or beneficial account owners, or if Vanguard reasonably believes a fraudulent transaction may occur or has occurred; (4) temporarily freeze any account and/or suspend account services upon initial notification to Vanguard of the death of the shareholder until Vanguard receives required documentation in good order; (5) alter, impose, discontinue, or waive any purchase fee, redemption fee, account service fee, or other fees charged to a group of shareholders; and (6) redeem an account or suspend account privileges, without the owner’s permission to do so, in cases of threatening conduct or activity

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Vanguard believes to be suspicious, fraudulent, or illegal. Changes may affect any or all investors. These actions will be taken when, at the sole discretion of Vanguard management, Vanguard reasonably believes they are in the best interest of a fund.

Investing With Vanguard Through Other Firms

Each Fund has authorized certain agents to accept on its behalf purchase and redemption orders, and those agents are authorized to designate other intermediaries to accept purchase and redemption orders on the Fund’s behalf (collectively, Authorized Agents). Each Fund will be deemed to have received a purchase or redemption order when an Authorized Agent accepts the order in accordance with the Fund’s instructions. In most instances, a customer order that is properly transmitted to an Authorized Agent will be priced at the NAV next determined after the order is received by the Authorized Agent.

MANAGEMENT OF THE FUNDS

Vanguard

Each Fund is part of the Vanguard group of investment companies, which consists of more than 170 funds. Through their jointly owned subsidiary, Vanguard, the funds obtain at cost virtually all of their corporate management, administrative, and distribution services. Vanguard also provides investment advisory services on an at-cost basis to several of the Vanguard funds.

Vanguard employs a supporting staff of management and administrative personnel needed to provide the requisite services to the funds and also furnishes the funds with necessary office space, furnishings, and equipment. Each fund pays its share of Vanguard’s total expenses, which are allocated among the funds under methods approved by the board of trustees of each fund. In addition, each fund bears its own direct expenses, such as legal, auditing, and custodial fees.

The funds’ officers are also officers and employees of Vanguard.

Vanguard, Vanguard Marketing Corporation (VMC), the funds’ advisors, and the funds have adopted Codes of Ethics designed to prevent employees who may have access to nonpublic information about the trading activities of the funds (access persons) from profiting from that information. The Codes permit access persons to invest in securities for their own accounts, including securities that may be held by a fund, but place substantive and procedural restrictions on the trading activities of access persons. For example, the Codes require that access persons receive advance approval for most securities trades to ensure that there is no conflict with the trading activities of the funds.

Vanguard was established and operates under an Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement. The Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement provides as follows: (1) each Vanguard fund may be called upon to invest up to 0.40% of its current net assets in Vanguard, and (2) there is no other limitation on the dollar amount that each Vanguard fund may contribute to Vanguard’s capitalization. The amounts that each fund has invested are adjusted from time to time in order to maintain the proportionate relationship between each fund’s relative net assets and its contribution to Vanguard’s capital. The Funds did not commence operations until •, 2012.

Management. Corporate management and administrative services include: (1) executive staff; (2) accounting and financial; (3) legal and regulatory; (4) shareholder account maintenance; (5) monitoring and control of custodian relationships; (6) shareholder reporting; and (7) review and evaluation of advisory and other services provided to the funds by third parties.

Distribution. Vanguard Marketing Corporation, 400 Devon Park Drive A39, Wayne, PA 19087, a wholly owned subsidiary of Vanguard, is the principal underwriter for the funds and in that capacity performs and finances marketing, promotional, and distribution activities (collectively, marketing and distribution activities) that are primarily intended to result in the sale of the funds’ shares. VMC performs marketing and distribution activities at cost in accordance with the conditions of a 1981 SEC exemptive order that permits the Vanguard funds to internalize and jointly finance the marketing, promotion, and distribution of their shares. The funds’ trustees review and approve the marketing and distribution expenses incurred by the funds, including the nature and cost of the activities and the desirability of each fund’s continued participation in the joint arrangement.

To ensure that each fund’s participation in the joint arrangement falls within a reasonable range of fairness, each fund contributes to VMC’s marketing and distribution expenses in accordance with an SEC-approved formula. Under that

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formula, one half of the marketing and distribution expenses are allocated among the funds based upon their relative net assets. The remaining half of those expenses is allocated among the funds based upon each fund’s sales for the preceding 24 months relative to the total sales of the funds as a group; provided, however, that no fund’s aggregate quarterly rate of contribution for marketing and distribution expenses shall exceed 125% of the average marketing and distribution expense rate for Vanguard, and that no fund shall incur annual marketing and distribution expenses in excess of 0.20% of its average month-end net assets. Each fund’s contribution to these marketing and distribution expenses helps to maintain and enhance the attractiveness and viability of the Vanguard complex as a whole, which benefits all of the funds and their shareholders.

VMC’s principal marketing and distribution expenses are for advertising, promotional materials, and marketing personnel.

Other marketing and distribution activities that VMC undertakes on behalf of the funds may include, but are not limited to:

  • Conducting or publishing Vanguard-generated research and analysis concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy;

  • Providing views, opinions, advice, or commentary concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy;

  • Providing analytical, statistical, performance, or other information concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy;

  • Providing administrative services in connection with investments in the funds or other investments, including, but not limited to, shareholder services, recordkeeping services, and educational services;

  • Providing products or services that assist investors or financial service providers (as defined below) in the investment decision-making process;

  • Providing promotional discounts, commission-free trading, fee waivers, and other benefits to clients of Vanguard Brokerage Services® who maintain qualifying investments in the funds; and

  • Sponsoring, jointly sponsoring, financially supporting, or participating in conferences, programs, seminars, presentations, meetings, or other events involving fund shareholders, financial service providers, or others concerning the funds, other investments, the financial markets, or the economy, such as industry conferences, prospecting trips, due diligence visits, training or education meetings, and sales presentations.

VMC performs most marketing and distribution activities itself. Some activities may be conducted by third parties pursuant to shared marketing arrangements under which VMC agrees to share the costs and performance of marketing and distribution activities in concert with a financial service provider. Financial service providers include, but are not limited to, investment advisors, broker-dealers, financial planners, financial consultants, banks, and insurance companies. Under these cost- and performance-sharing arrangements, VMC may pay or reimburse a financial service provider (or a third party it retains) for marketing and distribution activities that VMC would otherwise perform. VMC’s cost- and performance-sharing arrangements may be established in connection with Vanguard investment products or services offered or provided to or through the financial service providers. VMC’s arrangements for shared marketing and distribution activities may vary among financial service providers, and its payments or reimbursements to financial service providers in connection with shared marketing and distribution activities may be significant. VMC does not participate in the offshore arrangement Vanguard has established with a third party to provide marketing, promotional, and other services to qualifying Vanguard funds that are distributed in certain foreign countries on a private-placement basis to government-sponsored and other institutional investors. In exchange for such services, the third party receives an annual base (fixed) fee, and may also receive discretionary fees or performance adjustments.

In connection with its marketing and distribution activities, VMC may give financial service providers (or their representatives): (1) promotional items of nominal value that display Vanguard’s logo, such as golf balls, shirts, towels, pens, and mouse pads; (2) gifts that do not exceed $100 per person annually and are not preconditioned on achievement of a sales target; (3) an occasional meal, a ticket to a sporting event or the theater, or comparable entertainment that is neither so frequent nor so extensive as to raise any question of propriety and is not preconditioned on achievement of a sales target; and (4) reasonable travel and lodging accommodations to facilitate participation in marketing and distribution activities.

VMC, as a matter of policy, does not pay asset-based fees, sales-based fees, or account-based fees to financial service providers in connection with its marketing and distribution activities for the Vanguard funds. VMC policy also prohibits marketing and distribution activities that are intended, designed, or likely to compromise suitability determinations by, or the fulfillment of any fiduciary duties or other obligations that apply to, financial service providers. Nonetheless, VMC’s

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marketing and distribution activities are primarily intended to result in the sale of the funds’ shares, and, as such, its activities, including shared marketing and distribution activities, may influence participating financial service providers (or their representatives) to recommend, promote, include, or invest in a Vanguard fund or share class. In addition, Vanguard or any of its subsidiaries may retain a financial service provider to provide consulting or other services, and that financial service provider also may provide services to investors. Investors should consider the possibility that any of these activities or relationships may influence a financial service provider’s (or its representatives’) decision to recommend, promote, include, or invest in a Vanguard fund or share class. Each financial service provider should consider its suitability determinations, fiduciary duties, and other legal obligations (or those of its representatives) in connection with any decision to consider, recommend, promote, include, or invest in a Vanguard fund or share class.

Officers and Trustees

Each Vanguard fund is governed by the board of trustees of its trust and a single set of officers. Consistent with the board’s corporate governance principles, the trustees believe that their primary responsibility is oversight of the management of each fund for the benefit of its shareholders, not day-to-day management. The trustees set broad policies for the funds; select investment advisors; monitor fund operations, regulatory compliance, performance, and costs; nominate and select new trustees; and elect fund officers. Vanguard manages the day-to-day operations of the funds under the direction of the board of trustees.

The trustees play an active role, as a full board and at the committee level, in overseeing risk management for the funds. The trustees delegate the day-to-day risk management of the funds to various groups, including portfolio review, investment management, risk management, compliance, legal, fund accounting, and fund financial services. These groups provide the trustees with regular reports regarding investment, valuation, liquidity, and compliance, as well as the risks associated with each. The trustees also oversee risk management for the funds through regular interactions with the funds’ internal and external auditors.

The full board participates in the funds’ risk oversight, in part, through the Vanguard funds’ compliance program which covers the following broad areas of compliance: investment and other operations; recordkeeping; valuation and pricing; communications and disclosure; reporting and accounting; oversight of service providers; fund governance; and code of ethics, insider trading controls, and protection of nonpublic information. The program seeks to identify and assess risk through various methods, including through regular interdisciplinary communications between compliance professionals and business personnel who participate on a daily basis in risk management on behalf of the funds. The funds’ chief compliance officer regularly provides reports to the board in writing and in person.

The audit committee of the board, which is composed of all independent trustees, oversees management of financial risks and controls. The audit committee serves as the channel of communication between the independent auditors of the funds and the board with respect to financial statements and financial-reporting processes, systems of internal control, and the audit process. The head of internal audit reports directly to the audit committee and provides reports to the committee in writing and in person on a regular basis. Although the audit committee is responsible for overseeing the management of financial risks, the entire board is regularly informed of these risks through committee reports.

All of the trustees bring to each fund’s board a wealth of executive leadership experience derived from their service as executives (in many cases chief executive officers), board members, and leaders of diverse public operating companies, academic institutions, and other organizations. In determining whether an individual is qualified to serve as a trustee of the funds, the board considers a wide variety of information about the trustee, and multiple factors contribute to the board’s decision. Each trustee is determined to have the experience, skills, and attributes necessary to serve the funds and their shareholders because each trustee demonstrates an exceptional ability to consider complex business and financial matters, evaluate the relative importance and priority of issues, make decisions, and contribute effectively to the deliberations of the board. The board also considers the individual experience of each trustee and determines that the trustee’s professional experience, education, and background contribute to the diversity of perspectives on the board. The business acumen, experience, and objective thinking of the trustees are considered invaluable assets for Vanguard management and, ultimately, the Vanguard funds’ shareholders. The specific roles and experience of each board member that factor into this determination are presented below. The mailing address of the trustees and officers is P.O. Box 876, Valley Forge, PA 19482.

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        Number of
    Vanguard Principal Occupation(s) Vanguard Funds
  Position(s) Funds’ Trustee/ and Outside Directorships Overseen by
Name, Year of Birth Held with Funds Officer Since During the Past Five Years Trustee/Officer
Interested Trustee1        
F. William McNabb III Chairman of the July 2009 Mr. McNabb has served as Chairman of the Board of xxx
(1957) Board, Chief   Vanguard and of each of the investment companies  
  Executive Officer,   served by Vanguard, since January 2010; Trustee of  
  and President   each of the investment companies served by  
      Vanguard, since 2009; Director of Vanguard since  
      2008; and Chief Executive Officer and President of  
      Vanguard and of each of the investment companies  
      served by Vanguard, since 2008. Mr. McNabb also  
      serves as Director of Vanguard Marketing Corporation.  
      Mr. McNabb served as a Managing Director of  
      Vanguard from 1995 to 2008. Mr. McNabb’s 24 years  
      with Vanguard and his position as chief executive  
      officer of Vanguard and the Vanguard funds give him  
      intimate experience with the day-to-day management  
      and operations of the Vanguard funds.  
 
Independent Trustees        
Emerson U. Fullwood Trustee January 2008 Mr. Fullwood is the former Executive Chief Staff and xxx
(1948)     Marketing Officer for North America and Corporate  
      Vice President (retired 2008) of Xerox Corporation  
      (document management products and services).  
      Previous positions held at Xerox by Mr. Fullwood  
      include President of the Worldwide Channels Group,  
      President of Latin America, Executive Chief Staff Officer  
      of Developing Markets, and President of Worldwide  
      Customer Services. Mr. Fullwood is the Executive in  
      Residence and 2010 Distinguished Minett Professor at  
      the Rochester Institute of Technology. Mr. Fullwood  
      serves as a director of SPX Corporation (multi-industry  
      manufacturing), Amerigroup Corporation (managed  
      health care), the University of Rochester Medical  
      Center, Monroe Community College Foundation, the  
      United Way of Rochester, and North Carolina A&T  
      University. Mr. Fullwood brings to the board particular  
      experience with marketing, organizational development,  
      and operations management.  
 
Rajiv L. Gupta Trustee December 2001 Mr. Gupta is the former Chairman and Chief Executive xxx
(1945)     Officer (retired 2009) and President (2006–2008) of  
      Rohm and Haas Co. (chemicals). Mr. Gupta serves as a  
      director of Tyco International, Ltd. (diversified  
      manufacturing and services), and Hewlett-Packard  
      Company (electronic computer manufacturing); as  
      Senior Advisor at New Mountain Capital; as a trustee of  
      The Conference Board; and on the Board of Managers  
      of Delphi Automotive LLP (automotive components).  
      Mr. Gupta brings to the board particular experience  
      with finance, capital markets, and global operations.  

 

1 Mr. McNabb is considered an “interested person,” as defined in the 1940 Act, because he is an officer of the Trust.

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        Number of
    Vanguard Principal Occupation(s) Vanguard Funds
  Position(s) Funds’ Trustee/ and Outside Directorships Overseen by
Name, Year of Birth Held with Funds Officer Since During the Past Five Years Trustee/Officer
Amy Gutmann Trustee June 2006 Dr. Gutmann serves as the President of the University xxx
(1949)     of Pennsylvania. She is the Christopher H. Browne  
      Distinguished Professor of Political Science in the  
      School of Arts and Sciences with secondary  
      appointments at the Annenberg School for  
      Communication and the Graduate School of Education  
      at the University of Pennsylvania. Dr. Gutmann also  
      serves as a director of Carnegie Corporation of New  
      York, Schuylkill River Development Corporation, and  
      Greater Philadelphia Chamber of Commerce; and as a  
      trustee of the National Constitution Center.  
      Dr. Gutmann is Chair of the Presidential Commission  
      for the Study of Bioethical Issues. Dr. Gutmann brings  
      to the board particular experience with community and  
      organizational development, education, ethics, and  
      public policy.  
 
JoAnn Heffernan Heisen Trustee July 1998 Ms. Heisen is the former Corporate Vice President xxx
(1950)     and Chief Global Diversity Officer (retired 2008)  
      and a former Member of the Executive Committee  
      (1997–2008) of Johnson & Johnson (pharmaceuticals/  
      consumer products). Ms. Heisen served as Vice  
      President and Chief Information Officer of Johnson &  
      Johnson from 1997 to 2005. Ms. Heisen serves as a  
      director of Skytop Lodge Corporation (hotels), the  
      University Medical Center at Princeton, the Robert  
      Wood Johnson Foundation, and the Center for Work  
      Life Policy; and as a member of the advisory board of  
      the Maxwell School of Citizenship and Public Affairs at  
      Syracuse University. Ms. Heisen brings to the board  
      particular experience with human resources, and  
      financial and information technology matters.  
 
F. Joseph Loughrey Trustee October 2009 Mr. Loughrey is the former President and Chief xxx
(1949)     Operating Officer (retired 2009) and Vice Chairman of  
      the Board (2008–2009) of Cummins Inc. (industrial  
      machinery). Mr. Loughrey serves as a director of  
      SKF AB (industrial machinery), Hillenbrand, Inc.  
      (specialized consumer services), the Lumina  
      Foundation for Education, and Oxfam America; and as  
      Chairman of the Advisory Council for the College of  
      Arts and Letters and Member of the Advisory Board to  
      the Kellogg Institute for International Studies at the  
      University of Notre Dame. Mr. Loughrey served as a  
      director of Sauer-Danfoss Inc. (machinery) from 2000  
      to 2010, and of Tower Automotive Inc. (manufacturer  
      of automobile components) from 1994 to 2007.  
      Mr. Loughrey brings to the board particular experience  
      with global operations, technology, and risk and human  
      resources management.  

 

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        Number of
    Vanguard Principal Occupation(s) Vanguard Funds
  Position(s) Funds’ Trustee/ and Outside Directorships Overseen by
Name, Year of Birth Held with Funds Officer Since During the Past Five Years Trustee/Officer
André F. Perold Trustee December 2004 Dr. Perold is the former George Gund Professor of xxx
(1952)     Finance and Banking at the Harvard Business School  
      (retired July 2011). Dr. Perold serves as Chief  
      Investment Officer and co-Managing Partner of  
      HighVista Strategies LLC (private investment firm). Dr.  
      Perold also serves as a director of Rand Merchant  
      Bank and as an overseer of the Museum of Fine Arts  
      Boston. From 2003 to 2009, Dr. Perold served as  
      chairman of the board of UNX, Inc. (equities trading  
      firm). Dr. Perold brings to the board particular  
      experience with investment management and finance.  
 
Alfred M. Rankin, Jr. Lead January 1993 Mr. Rankin serves as Chairman, President, and Chief xxx
(1941) Independent   Executive Officer of NACCO Industries, Inc. (forklift  
  Trustee   trucks/housewares/lignite). Mr. Rankin also serves as a  
      director of Goodrich Corporation (industrial products/  
      aircraft systems and services) and the National  
      Association of Manufacturers; Chairman of the Federal  
      Reserve Bank of Cleveland; Vice Chairman of  
      University Hospitals of Cleveland; and President of the  
      Board of The Cleveland Museum of Art. Mr. Rankin  
      brings to the board particular experience with finance,  
      capital markets, and risk and operations management.  
 
Peter F. Volanakis(1955) Trustee July 2009 Mr. Volanakis is the retired President and Chief xxx
      Operating Officer (retired 2010) of Corning  
      Incorporated (communications equipment).  
      Mr. Volanakis served as a director of Corning  
      Incorporated (2000–2010) and of Dow Corning (2001–  
      2010). Mr. Volanakis serves as Overseer of the Amos  
      Tuck School of Business Administration at Dartmouth  
      College. Mr. Volanakis brings to the board particular  
      experience with international operations, marketing,  
      and corporate development.  
 
Executive Officers        
Glenn Booraem Controller July 2010 Mr. Booraem, a Principal of Vanguard, has served as xxx
(1967)     Controller of each of the investment companies served  
      by Vanguard, since 2010. Mr. Booraem served as  
      Assistant Controller of each of the investment  
      companies served by Vanguard, from 2001 to 2010.  
 
Thomas J. Higgins Chief Financial September 2008 Mr. Higgins, a Principal of Vanguard, has served as xxx
(1957) Officer   Chief Financial Officer of each of the investment  
      companies served by Vanguard, since 2008. Mr.  
      Higgins served as Treasurer of each of the investment  
      companies served by Vanguard, from 1998 to 2008.  
 
Kathryn J. Hyatt Treasurer November 2008 Ms. Hyatt, a Principal of Vanguard, has served as xxx
(1955)     Treasurer of each of the investment companies served  
      by Vanguard, since 2008. Ms. Hyatt served as  
      Assistant Treasurer of each of the investment  
      companies served by Vanguard, from 1988 to 2008.  

 

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        Number of
    Vanguard Principal Occupation(s) Vanguard Funds
  Position(s) Funds’ Trustee/ and Outside Directorships Overseen by
Name, Year of Birth Held with Funds Officer Since During the Past Five Years Trustee/Officer
Heidi Stam Secretary July 2005 Ms. Stam has served as a Managing Director of xxx
(1956)     Vanguard since 2006; General Counsel of Vanguard  
      since 2005; Secretary of Vanguard and of each of the  
      investment companies served by Vanguard, since  
      2005; and Director and Senior Vice President of  
      Vanguard Marketing Corporation since 2005. Ms. Stam  
      served as a Principal of Vanguard from 1997 to 2006.  

 

All but one of the trustees are independent. The independent trustees designate a lead independent trustee. The lead independent trustee is a spokesperson and principal point of contact for the independent trustees and is responsible for coordinating the activities of the independent trustees, including calling regular executive sessions of the independent trustees; developing the agenda of each meeting together with the chairman; and chairing the meetings of the independent trustees, including the meetings of the audit, compensation, and nominating committees.

The independent trustees appoint the chairman of the board. The roles of chairman of the board and chief executive officer currently are held by the same person; as a result, the chairman of the board is an “interested” trustee. The independent trustees generally believe that the Vanguard funds’ chief executive officer is best qualified to serve as chairman and that fund shareholders benefit from this leadership structure through accountability and strong day-to-day leadership.

Board Committees: The Trust's board has the following committees:

  • Audit Committee: This committee oversees the accounting and financial reporting policies, the systems of internal controls, and the independent audits of each fund and Vanguard. All independent trustees serve as members of the committee.

  • Compensation Committee: This committee oversees the compensation programs established by each fund and Vanguard for the benefit of their employees, officers, and trustees/directors. All independent trustees serve as members of the committee.

  • Nominating Committee: This committee nominates candidates for election to Vanguard’s board of directors and the board of trustees of each fund (collectively, the Vanguard boards). The committee also has the authority to recommend the removal of any director or trustee from the Vanguard boards. All independent trustees serve as members of the committee.

The Nominating Committee will consider shareholder recommendations for trustee nominees. Shareholders may send recommendations to Mr. Rankin, Chairman of the Committee.

Trustee Compensation

The same individuals serve as trustees of all Vanguard funds and each fund pays a proportionate share of the trustees’ compensation. The funds also employ their officers on a shared basis; however, officers are compensated by Vanguard, not the funds.

Independent Trustees. The funds compensate their independent trustees (i.e., the ones who are not also officers of the funds) in three ways:

  • The independent trustees receive an annual fee for their service to the funds, which is subject to reduction based on absences from scheduled board meetings.

  • The independent trustees are reimbursed for the travel and other expenses that they incur in attending board meetings.

  • Upon retirement (after attaining age 65 and completing five years of service), the independent trustees who began their service prior to January 1, 2001, receive a retirement benefit under a separate account arrangement. As of January 1, 2001, the opening balance of each eligible trustee’s separate account was generally equal to the net present value of the benefits he or she had accrued under the trustees’ former retirement plan. Each eligible trustee’s separate account will be credited annually with interest at a rate of 7.5% until the trustee receives his or her final

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distribution. Those independent trustees who began their service on or after January 1, 2001, are not eligible to participate in the plan.

“Interested” Trustee. Mr. McNabb serves as trustee, but is not paid in this capacity. He is, however, paid in his role as an officer of Vanguard.

Compensation Table. The following table provides compensation details for each of the trustees. We list the amounts paid as compensation and accrued as retirement benefits by the Funds for each trustee. In addition, the table shows the total amount of benefits that we expect each trustee to receive from all Vanguard funds upon retirement, and the total amount of compensation paid to each trustee by all Vanguard funds.

VANGUARD CHARLOTTE FUNDS
TRUSTEES’ COMPENSATION TABLE
 
    Pension or Retirement Accrued Annual Total Compensation
  Aggregate Benefits Accrued Retirement from All Vanguard
  Compensation as Part of the Benefit at Funds Paid
Trustee from the Funds1 Funds’ Expenses1 January 1, 20101 to Trustees2
F. William McNabb III

 

Emerson U. Fullwood
Rajiv L. Gupta
Amy Gutmann
JoAnn Heffernan Heisen
F. Joseph Loughrey
André F. Perold
Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.
Peter F. Volanakis

1     

Each trustee is eligible to receive retirement benefits only after completing at least 5 years (60 consecutive months) of service as a trustee for the Vanguard funds. The annual retirement benefit will be paid in monthly installments, beginning with the month following the trustee’s retirement from service, and will cease after 10 years of payments (120 monthly installments). Trustees who began their service on or after January 1, 2001, are not eligible to participate in the retirement benefit plan.

2     

The amounts reported in this column reflect the total compensation paid to each trustee for his or her service as trustee of xxx Vanguard funds for the 2010 calendar year.

Ownership of Fund Shares

All trustees allocate their investments among the various Vanguard funds based on their own investment needs. The following table shows each trustee’s ownership of shares of each Fund and of all Vanguard funds served by the trustee as of December 31, 2011. The Funds did not commence operations until •.

    Dollar Range of Fund Aggregate Dollar Range of
    Shares Owned Vanguard Fund Shares
Fund Trustee by Trustee Owned by Trustee
Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund Emerson U. Fullwood $XX
  Rajiv L. Gupta  
  Amy Gutmann  
  JoAnn Heffernan Heisen  
  F. Joseph Loughrey  
  F. William McNabb  
  André F. Perold  
  Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.  
  Peter Volanakis  

 

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    Dollar Range of Fund Aggregate Dollar Range of
    Shares Owned Vanguard Fund Shares
Fund Trustee by Trustee Owned by Trustee
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond      
Index Fund Emerson U. Fullwood $xx
  Rajiv L. Gupta  
  Amy Gutmann  
  JoAnn Heffernan Heisen  
  F. Joseph Loughrey  
  F. William McNabb  
  André F. Perold  
  Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.  
  Peter Volanakis  
 
Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures    

 

Introduction

Vanguard and the Boards of Trustees of the Vanguard funds (Boards) have adopted Portfolio Holdings Disclosure Policies and Procedures (Policies and Procedures) to govern the disclosure of the portfolio holdings of each Vanguard fund. Vanguard and the Boards considered each of the circumstances under which Vanguard fund portfolio holdings may be disclosed to different categories of persons under the Policies and Procedures. Vanguard and the Boards also considered actual and potential material conflicts that could arise in such circumstances between the interests of Vanguard fund shareholders, on the one hand, and those of the fund’s investment advisor, distributor, or any affiliated person of the fund, its investment advisor, or its distributor, on the other. After giving due consideration to such matters and after the exercise of their fiduciary duties and reasonable business judgment, Vanguard and the Boards determined that the Vanguard funds have a legitimate business purpose for disclosing portfolio holdings to the persons described in each of the circumstances set forth in the Policies and Procedures and that the Policies and Procedures are reasonably designed to ensure that disclosure of portfolio holdings and information about portfolio holdings is in the best interests of fund shareholders and appropriately addresses the potential for material conflicts of interest.

The Boards exercise continuing oversight of the disclosure of Vanguard fund portfolio holdings by (1) overseeing the implementation and enforcement of the Policies and Procedures, the Code of Ethics, and the Policies and Procedures Designed to Prevent the Misuse of Inside Information (collectively, the portfolio holdings governing policies) by the Chief Compliance Officer of Vanguard and the Vanguard funds; (2) considering reports and recommendations by the Chief Compliance Officer concerning any material compliance matters (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act and Rule 206(4)-7 under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940) that may arise in connection with any portfolio holdings governing policies; and (3) considering whether to approve or ratify any amendment to any portfolio holdings governing policies. Vanguard and the Boards reserve the right to amend the Policies and Procedures at any time and from time to time without prior notice at their sole discretion. For purposes of the Policies and Procedures, the term “portfolio holdings” means the equity and debt securities (e.g., stocks and bonds) held by a Vanguard fund and does not mean the cash investments, derivatives, and other investment positions (collectively, other investment positions) held by the fund.

Online Disclosure of Ten Largest Stock Holdings

Each of the Vanguard equity funds and Vanguard balanced funds generally will seek to disclose the fund’s ten largest stock portfolio holdings and the percentages that each of these ten largest stock portfolio holdings represents of the fund’s total assets as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter (quarter-end ten largest stock holdings) online at vanguard.com in the “Portfolio” section of the fund’s Portfolio & Management page, 15 calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter. In addition, those funds generally will seek to disclose the fund’s ten largest stock portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent month (month-end ten largest stock holdings) online at vanguard.com in the “Portfolio” section of the fund’s Portfolio & Management page, 10 business days after the end of the month. Together, the quarter-end and month-end ten largest stock holdings are referred to as the ten largest stock holdings. Online disclosure of the ten largest stock holdings is made to all categories of persons, including individual investors, institutional investors,

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intermediaries, third-party service providers, rating and ranking organizations, affiliated persons of a Vanguard fund, and all other persons.

Online Disclosure of Complete Portfolio Holdings

Each of the Vanguard funds, excluding Vanguard money market funds and Vanguard Market Neutral Fund, generally will seek to disclose the fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter online at vanguard.com in the “Portfolio” section of the fund’s Portfolio & Management page, 30 calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter. Vanguard Market Neutral Fund generally will seek to disclose the Fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the end of the most recent calendar quarter online at vanguard.com in the “Portfolio” section of the Fund’s Portfolio & Management page, 60 calendar days after the end of the calendar quarter. In accordance with Rule 2a-7 under the 1940 Act, each of the Vanguard money market funds will disclose the fund’s complete portfolio holdings as of the last business day of the prior month online at vanguard.com, in the “Portfolio” section of the fund’s Portfolio & Management page, no later than the fifth (5th) business day of the current month. The complete portfolio holdings information for money market funds will remain available online for at least six (6) months after the initial posting. Online disclosure of complete portfolio holdings is made to all categories of persons, including individual investors, institutional investors, intermediaries, third-party service providers, rating and ranking organizations, affiliated persons of a Vanguard fund, and all other persons. Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department will review complete portfolio holdings before online disclosure is made as previously described and, except with respect to the complete portfolio holdings of the Vanguard money market funds, may withhold any portion of the fund’s complete portfolio holdings from online disclosure as previously described when deemed to be in the best interests of the fund after consultation with a Vanguard fund’s investment advisor.

Disclosure of Complete Portfolio Holdings to Service Providers Subject to Confidentiality and Trading Restrictions

Vanguard, for legitimate business purposes, may disclose Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings at times it deems necessary and appropriate to rating and ranking organizations; financial printers; proxy voting service providers; pricing information vendors; third parties that deliver analytical, statistical, or consulting services; and other third parties that provide services (collectively, Service Providers) to Vanguard, Vanguard subsidiaries, and/or the Vanguard funds. Disclosure of complete portfolio holdings to a Service Provider is conditioned on the Service Provider being subject to a written agreement imposing a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the basis of any material nonpublic information.

The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed to a Service Provider, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the Service Provider, is determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure to a Service Provider varies and may be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings by Vanguard to a Service Provider must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal in Vanguard’s Portfolio Review or Legal Department. Any disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings to a Service Provider as previously described may also include a list of the other investment positions that make up the fund, such as cash investments and derivatives.

Currently, Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings are disclosed to the following Service Providers as part of ongoing arrangements that serve legitimate business purposes: Abel/Noser Corporation, Advisor Software, Inc., Alcom Printing Group Inc., Apple Press, L.C., Bloomberg L.P., Brilliant Graphics, Inc., Broadridge Financial Solutions, Inc., Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., FactSet Research Systems Inc., Innovation Printing & Communications, Intelligencer Printing Company, Investment Technology Group, Inc., Lipper, Inc., Markit WSO Corporation, McMunn Associates Inc., Oce’ Business Services, Inc., Reuters America Inc., R.R. Donnelley, Inc., State Street Bank and Trust Company, Triune Color Corporation, and Tursack Printing Inc.

Disclosure of Complete Portfolio Holdings to Vanguard Affiliates and Certain Fiduciaries Subject to Confidentiality and Trading Restrictions

Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among the following persons (collectively, Affiliates and Fiduciaries) for legitimate business purposes within the scope of their official duties and responsibilities, subject to such persons’ continuing legal duty of confidentiality and legal duty not to trade on the basis of any material

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nonpublic information, as such duties are imposed under the Code of Ethics, the Policies and Procedures Designed to Prevent the Misuse of Inside Information, by agreement, or under applicable laws, rules, and regulations: (1) persons who are subject to the Code of Ethics or the Policies and Procedures Designed to Prevent the Misuse of Inside Information; (2) an investment advisor, distributor, administrator, transfer agent, or custodian to a Vanguard fund; (3) an accounting firm, an auditing firm, or outside legal counsel retained by Vanguard, a Vanguard subsidiary, or a Vanguard fund; (4) an investment advisor to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed for due diligence purposes when the advisor is in merger or acquisition talks with a Vanguard fund’s current advisor; and (5) a newly hired investment advisor or sub-advisor to whom complete portfolio holdings are disclosed prior to the time it commences its duties.

The frequency with which complete portfolio holdings may be disclosed between and among Affiliates and Fiduciaries, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed between and among the Affiliates and Fiduciaries, is determined by such Affiliates and Fiduciaries based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure between and among Affiliates and Fiduciaries varies and may be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Any disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings to any Affiliates and Fiduciaries as previously described may also include a list of the other investment positions that make up the fund, such as cash investments and derivatives. Disclosure of Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings or other investment positions by Vanguard, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, or a Vanguard fund to Affiliates and Fiduciaries must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

Currently, Vanguard fund complete portfolio holdings are disclosed to the following Affiliates and Fiduciaries as part of ongoing arrangements that serve legitimate business purposes: Vanguard and each investment advisor, custodian, and independent registered public accounting firm identified in each fund’s Statement of Additional Information.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings to Broker-Dealers in the Normal Course of Managing a Fund’s Assets

An investment advisor, administrator, or custodian for a Vanguard fund may, for legitimate business purposes within the scope of its official duties and responsibilities, disclose portfolio holdings (whether partial portfolio holdings or complete portfolio holdings) and other investment positions that make up the fund to one or more broker-dealers during the course of, or in connection with, normal day-to-day securities and derivatives transactions with or through such broker-dealers subject to the broker-dealer’s legal obligation not to use or disclose material nonpublic information concerning the fund’s portfolio holdings, other investment positions, securities transactions, or derivatives transactions without the consent of the fund or its agents. The Vanguard funds have not given their consent to any such use or disclosure and no person or agent of Vanguard is authorized to give such consent except as approved in writing by the Boards of the Vanguard funds. Disclosure of portfolio holdings or other investment positions by Vanguard to broker-dealers must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

Disclosure of Nonmaterial Information

The Policies and Procedures permit Vanguard fund officers, Vanguard fund portfolio managers, and other Vanguard representatives (collectively, Approved Vanguard Representatives) to disclose any views, opinions, judgments, advice, or commentary, or any analytical, statistical, performance, or other information, in connection with or relating to a Vanguard fund or its portfolio holdings and/or other investment positions (collectively, commentary and analysis) or any changes in the portfolio holdings of a Vanguard fund that occurred after the end of the most recent calendar quarter (recent portfolio changes) to any person if (1) such disclosure serves a legitimate business purpose, (2) such disclosure does not effectively result in the disclosure of the complete portfolio holdings of any Vanguard fund (which can be disclosed only in accordance with the Policies and Procedures), and (3) such information does not constitute material nonpublic information. Disclosure of commentary and analysis or recent portfolio changes by Vanguard, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, or a Vanguard fund must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

An Approved Vanguard Representative must make a good faith determination whether the information constitutes material nonpublic information, which involves an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances. Vanguard believes that in most cases recent portfolio changes that involve a few or even several securities in a diversified portfolio or commentary and analysis would be immaterial and would not convey any advantage to a recipient in making an investment decision concerning a Vanguard fund. Nonexclusive examples of commentary and analysis about a Vanguard

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fund include (1) the allocation of the fund’s portfolio holdings and other investment positions among various asset classes, sectors, industries, and countries; (2) the characteristics of the stock and bond components of the fund’s portfolio holdings and other investment positions; (3) the attribution of fund returns by asset class, sector, industry, and country; and (4) the volatility characteristics of the fund. Approved Vanguard Representatives may at their sole discretion determine whether to deny any request for information made by any person, and may do so for any reason or for no reason. “Approved Vanguard Representatives” include, for purposes of the Policies and Procedures, persons employed by or associated with Vanguard or a subsidiary of Vanguard who have been authorized by Vanguard’s Portfolio Review Department to disclose recent portfolio changes and/or commentary and analysis in accordance with the Policies and Procedures.

Currently, Vanguard nonmaterial portfolio holdings information is disclosed to KPMG, LLP, and R.V. Kuhns & Associates.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings in Accordance with SEC Exemptive Orders

Vanguard’s Fund Financial Services unit may disclose to the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC) the daily portfolio composition files (PCFs) that identify a basket of specified securities that may overlap with the actual or expected portfolio holdings of the Vanguard funds that offer a class of shares known as Vanguard ETF Shares (ETF Funds), in accordance with the terms and conditions of related exemptive orders (Vanguard ETF Exemptive Orders) issued by the Securities and Exchange Commission, as described in this section.

Unlike the conventional classes of shares issued by ETF Funds, the ETF Shares are listed for trading on a national securities exchange. Each ETF Fund issues ETF Shares in large blocks, known as “Creation Units.” To purchase or redeem a Creation Unit, an investor must be an “Authorized Participant” or the investor must purchase or redeem through a broker-dealer that is an Authorized Participant. An Authorized Participant is a participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC) that has executed a Participant Agreement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation. Each ETF Fund issues Creation Units in exchange for a “portfolio deposit” consisting of a basket of specified securities (Deposit Securities) and a cash payment (the Balancing Amount). Each ETF Fund also redeems Creation Units in kind; an investor who tenders a Creation Unit will receive, as redemption proceeds, a basket of specified securities together with a Balancing Amount.

In connection with the creation and redemption process, and in accordance with the terms and conditions of the Vanguard ETF Exemptive Orders, Vanguard makes available to the NSCC, for dissemination to NSCC participants on each business day prior to the opening of trading on the listing exchange, a PCF containing a list of the names and the required number of shares of each Deposit Security for each ETF Fund. (The NSCC is a clearing agency registered with the SEC and affiliated with the DTC.) In addition, the listing exchange disseminates (1) continuously throughout the trading day, through the facilities of the consolidated tape, the market value of an ETF Share, and (2) every 15 seconds throughout the trading day, separately from the consolidated tape, a calculation of the estimated NAV of an ETF Share (which estimate is expected to be accurate to within a few basis points). Comparing these two figures allows an investor to determine whether, and to what extent, ETF Shares are selling at a premium or at a discount to NAV. ETF Shares are listed on the exchange and traded on the secondary market in the same manner as other equity securities. The price of ETF Shares trading on the secondary market is based on a current bid/offer market.

As contemplated by the Vanguard ETF Exemptive Orders, Vanguard and the ETF Funds expect that only institutional arbitrageurs and institutional investors with large indexed portfolios will buy and sell ETF Shares in Creation Unit-sized aggregations because Creation Units can be purchased only in exchange for securities likely to cost millions of dollars. An exchange specialist, in providing for a fair and orderly secondary market for ETF Shares, also may purchase Creation Units for use in its market-making activities on the exchange. Vanguard and the ETF Funds expect secondary market purchasers of ETF Shares will include both institutional and retail investors. Vanguard and the ETF Funds believe that arbitrageurs will purchase or redeem Creation Units to take advantage of discrepancies between the ETF Shares’ market price and the ETF Shares’ underlying NAV. Vanguard and the ETF Funds expect that this arbitrage activity will provide a market “discipline” that will result in a close correspondence between the price at which the ETF Shares trade and their NAV. In other words, Vanguard and the ETF Funds do not expect the ETF Shares to trade at a significant premium or discount to their NAV.

In addition to making PCFs available to the NSCC, as previously described, Vanguard’s Fund Financial Services unit may disclose the PCF for any ETF Fund to any person, or online at vanguard.com to all categories of persons, if (1) such disclosure serves a legitimate business purpose and (2) such disclosure does not constitute material nonpublic information. Vanguard’s Fund Financial Services unit must make a good faith determination whether the PCF for any ETF

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Fund constitutes material nonpublic information, which involves an assessment of the particular facts and circumstances. Vanguard believes that in most cases the PCF for any ETF Fund would be immaterial and would not convey any advantage to the recipient in making an investment decision concerning the ETF Fund, if sufficient time has passed between the date of the PCF and the date on which the PCF is disclosed. Vanguard’s Fund Financial Services unit may at its sole discretion determine whether to deny any request for the PCF for any ETF Fund made by any person, and may do so for any reason or for no reason. Disclosure of a PCF must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal in Vanguard’s Fund Financial Services unit.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings Related Information to the Issuer of a Security for Legitimate Business Purposes

Vanguard, at its sole discretion, may disclose portfolio holdings information concerning a security held by one or more Vanguard funds to the issuer of such security if the issuer presents, to the satisfaction of Fund Financial Services, convincing evidence that the issuer has a legitimate business purpose for such information. Disclosure of this information to an issuer is conditioned on the issuer being subject to a written agreement imposing a duty of confidentiality, including a duty not to trade on the basis of any material nonpublic information. The frequency with which portfolio holdings information concerning a security may be disclosed to the issuer of such security, and the length of the lag, if any, between the date of the information and the date on which the information is disclosed to the issuer, is determined based on the facts and circumstances, including, without limitation, the nature of the portfolio holdings information to be disclosed, the risk of harm to the funds and their shareholders, and the legitimate business purposes served by such disclosure. The frequency of disclosure to an issuer cannot be determined in advance of a specific request and will vary based upon the particular facts and circumstances and the legitimate business purposes, but in unusual situations could be as frequent as daily, with no lag. Disclosure of portfolio holdings information concerning a security held by one or more Vanguard funds to the issuer of such security must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal in Vanguard’s Portfolio Review or Legal Department.

Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings as Required by Applicable Law

Vanguard fund portfolio holdings (whether partial portfolio holdings or complete portfolio holdings) and other investment positions that make up a fund shall be disclosed to any person as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations. Examples of such required disclosure include, but are not limited to, disclosure of Vanguard fund portfolio holdings (1) in a filing or submission with the SEC or another regulatory body, (2) in connection with seeking recovery on defaulted bonds in a federal bankruptcy case, (3) in connection with a lawsuit, or (4) as required by court order. Disclosure of portfolio holdings or other investment positions by Vanguard, Vanguard Marketing Corporation, or a Vanguard fund as required by applicable laws, rules, and regulations must be authorized by a Vanguard fund officer or a Principal of Vanguard.

Prohibitions on Disclosure of Portfolio Holdings

No person is authorized to disclose Vanguard fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions (whether online at vanguard.com, in writing, by fax, by e-mail, orally, or by other means) except in accordance with the Policies and Procedures. In addition, no person is authorized to make disclosure pursuant to the Policies and Procedures if such disclosure is otherwise unlawful under the antifraud provisions of the federal securities laws (as defined in Rule 38a-1 under the 1940 Act). Furthermore, Vanguard’s management, at its sole discretion, may determine not to disclose portfolio holdings or other investment positions that make up a Vanguard fund to any person who would otherwise be eligible to receive such information under the Policies and Procedures, or may determine to make such disclosures publicly as provided by the Policies and Procedures.

Prohibitions on Receipt of Compensation or Other Consideration

The Policies and Procedures prohibit a Vanguard fund, its investment advisor, and any other person from paying or receiving any compensation or other consideration of any type for the purpose of obtaining disclosure of Vanguard fund portfolio holdings or other investment positions. “Consideration” includes any agreement to maintain assets in the fund or in other investment companies or accounts managed by the investment advisor or by any affiliated person of the investment advisor.

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INVESTMENT ADVISORY SERVICES

The Funds receive all investment advisory services from Vanguard, through its Fixed Income Group. These services are provided on an at-cost basis by an experienced investment advisory staff employed directly by Vanguard. The compensation and other expenses of the advisory staff are allocated among the funds utilizing these services.

Other Accounts Managed

Gregory Davis co-manages the Funds. As of •, Mr. Davis also managed all or a portion of xx other registered investment companies with total assets of $xx.x billion, co-managed xx other registered investment companies with total assets of $xx million, and co-managed xx other pooled investment vehicles with total assets of $x.x billion (xx of which had advisory fees based on performance).

Yan Pu co-manages the Funds. As of •, Ms. Pu also managed all or a portion of xx other registered investment companies with total assets of $xx.x billion, co-managed xx other registered investment companies with total assets of $xx million, and co-managed xx other pooled investment vehicles with total assets of $x.x billion (xx of which had advisory fees based on performance).

Material Conflicts of Interest

At Vanguard, individual portfolio managers may manage multiple accounts for multiple clients. In addition to mutual funds, these other accounts may include separate accounts, collective trusts, or offshore funds. Managing multiple funds and accounts may give rise to potential conflicts of interest, including, for example, conflicts among investment strategies and conflicts in the allocation of investment opportunities. Vanguard manages potential conflicts between funds or with other types of accounts through allocation policies and procedures, internal review processes, and oversight by directors and independent third parties. Vanguard has developed trade allocation procedures and controls to ensure that no one client, regardless of type, is intentionally favored at the expense of another. Allocation policies are designed to address potential conflicts in situations where two or more funds or accounts participate in investment decisions involving the same securities.

Description of Compensation

The Funds’ portfolio managers are Vanguard employees. This section describes the compensation of Vanguard employees who manage Vanguard mutual funds. As of •, a Vanguard portfolio manager’s compensation generally consists of base salary, bonus, and payments under Vanguard’s long-term incentive compensation program. In addition, portfolio managers are eligible for the standard retirement benefits and health and welfare benefits available to all Vanguard employees. Also, certain portfolio managers may be eligible for additional retirement benefits under several supplemental retirement plans that Vanguard adopted in the 1980s to restore dollar-for-dollar the benefits of management employees that had been cut back solely as a result of tax law changes. These plans are structured to provide the same retirement benefits as the standard retirement plans.

In the case of portfolio managers responsible for managing multiple Vanguard funds or accounts, the method used to determine their compensation is the same for all funds and investment accounts.

A portfolio manager’s base salary is determined by the manager’s experience and performance in the role, taking into account the ongoing compensation benchmark analyses performed by the Vanguard Human Resources Department. A portfolio manager’s base salary is generally a fixed amount that may change as a result of an annual review, upon assumption of new duties, or when a market adjustment of the position occurs.

A portfolio manager’s bonus is determined by a number of factors. One factor is gross, pre-tax performance of the fund relative to expectations for how the fund should have performed, given the fund’s investment objective, policies, strategies, and limitations, and the market environment during the measurement period. This performance factor is not based on the value of assets held in the fund’s portfolio. The performance factor depends on how closely the portfolio manager tracks the Fund’s target index over a one-year period. Additional factors include the portfolio manager’s contributions to the investment management functions within the sub-asset class, contributions to the development of other investment professionals and supporting staff, and overall contributions to strategic planning and decisions for the investment group. The target bonus is expressed as a percentage of base salary. The actual bonus paid may be more or

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less than the target bonus, based on how well the manager satisfies the objectives stated above. The bonus is paid on an annual basis.

Under the long-term incentive compensation program, all full-time employees receive a payment from Vanguard’s long-term incentive compensation plan based on their years of service, job level and, if applicable, management responsibilities. Each year, Vanguard’s independent directors determine the amount of the long term incentive compensation award for that year based on the investment performance of the Vanguard funds relative to competitors and Vanguard’s operating efficiencies in providing services to the Vanguard funds.

Ownership of Securities

Vanguard employees, including portfolio managers, allocate their investments among the various Vanguard funds based on their own individual investment needs and goals. Vanguard employees, as a group, invest a sizeable portion of their personal assets in Vanguard funds. As of •, Vanguard employees collectively invested more than $x.x billion in Vanguard funds. F. William McNabb III, Chairman of the Board, Chief Executive Officer, and President of Vanguard and the Vanguard funds, and George U. Sauter, Chief Investment Officer and Managing Director of Vanguard, invest substantially all of their personal financial assets in Vanguard funds.

The Funds did not commence operations until •, 2012.

Duration and Termination of Investment Advisory Agreement

Vanguard provides at-cost investment advisory services to the Funds pursuant to the terms of the Fifth Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement. This agreement will continue in full force and effect until terminated or amended by mutual agreement of the Vanguard funds and Vanguard.

PORTFOLIO TRANSACTIONS

The advisor decides which securities to buy and sell on behalf of a Fund and then selects the brokers or dealers that will execute the trades on an agency basis or the dealers with whom the trades will be effected on a principal basis. For each trade, the advisor must select a broker-dealer that it believes will provide “best execution.” Best execution does not necessarily mean paying the lowest spread or commission rate available. In seeking best execution, the SEC has said that an advisor should consider the full range of a broker-dealer’s services. The factors considered by the advisor in seeking best execution include, but are not limited to, the broker-dealer’s execution capability, clearance and settlement services, commission rate, trading expertise, willingness and ability to commit capital, ability to provide anonymity, financial responsibility, reputation and integrity, responsiveness, access to underwritten offerings and secondary markets, and access to company management, as well as the value of any research provided by the broker-dealer. In assessing which broker-dealer can provide best execution for a particular trade, the advisor also may consider the timing and size of the order and available liquidity and current market conditions. Subject to applicable legal requirements, the advisor may select a broker based partly on brokerage or research services provided to the advisor and its clients, including the Funds. The advisor may cause a Fund to pay a higher commission than other brokers would charge if the advisor determines in good faith that the amount of the commission is reasonable in relation to the value of services provided. The advisor also may receive brokerage or research services from broker-dealers that are provided at no charge in recognition of the volume of trades directed to the broker. To the extent research services or products may be a factor in selecting brokers, services and products may include written research reports analyzing performance or securities, discussions with research analysts, meetings with corporate executives to obtain oral reports on company performance, market data, and other products and services that will assist the advisor in its investment decision-making process. The research services provided by brokers through which a Fund effects securities transactions may be used by the advisor in servicing all of its accounts, and some of the services may not be used by the advisor in connection with the Fund.

The types of securities in which the Funds invest are generally purchased and sold through principal transactions, meaning that the Funds normally purchase securities directly from the issuer or a primary market-maker acting as principal for the securities on a net basis. Explicit brokerage commissions are not paid on these transactions, although purchases of new issues from underwriters of securities typically include a commission or concession paid by the issuer to the underwriter, and purchases from dealers serving as market-makers typically include a dealer’s mark-up (i.e., a spread between the bid and the asked prices).

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As previously explained, the types of securities that the Fund purchases do not normally involve the payment of explicit brokerage commissions. If any such brokerage commissions are paid, however, the advisor will evaluate their reasonableness by considering: (1) historical commission rates; (2) rates which other institutional investors are paying, based upon publicly available information; (3) rates quoted by brokers and dealers; (4) the size of a particular transaction, in terms of the number of shares, dollar amount, and number of clients involved; (5) the complexity of a particular transaction in terms of both execution and settlement; (6) the level and type of business done with a particular firm over a period of time; and (7) the extent to which the broker or dealer has capital at risk in the transaction.

Some securities that are considered for investment by a Fund may also be appropriate for other Vanguard funds or for other clients served by the advisor. If such securities are compatible with the investment policies of a Fund and one or more of the advisor’s other clients, and are considered for purchase or sale at or about the same time, then transactions in such securities will be aggregated by the advisor and the purchased securities or sale proceeds will be allocated among the participating Vanguard funds and the other participating clients of the advisor in a manner deemed equitable by the advisor. Although there may be no specified formula for allocating such transactions, the allocation methods used, and the results of such allocations, will be subject to periodic review by the Funds‘ board of trustees.

PROXY VOTING GUIDELINES

The Board of Trustees (the Board) of each Vanguard fund that invests in stocks has adopted proxy voting procedures and guidelines to govern proxy voting by the fund. The Board has delegated oversight of proxy voting to the Proxy Oversight Committee (the Committee), made up of senior officers of Vanguard, a majority of whom are also officers of each Vanguard fund, and subject to the operating procedures and guidelines described below. The Committee reports directly to the Board. Vanguard is subject to these procedures and guidelines to the extent that they call for Vanguard to administer the voting process and implement the resulting voting decisions, and for these purposes the guidelines have been approved by the Board of Directors of Vanguard.

The overarching objective in voting is simple: to support proposals and director nominees that maximize the value of a fund’s investments—and those of fund shareholders—over the long term. Although the goal is simple, the proposals the funds receive are varied and frequently complex. As such, the guidelines adopted by the Board provide a rigorous framework for assessing each proposal. Under the guidelines, each proposal must be evaluated on its merits, based on the particular facts and circumstances as presented.

For ease of reference, the procedures and guidelines often refer to all funds. However, our processes and practices seek to ensure that proxy voting decisions are suitable for individual funds. For most proxy proposals, particularly those involving corporate governance, the evaluation will result in the same position being taken across all of the funds and the funds voting as a block. In some cases, however, a fund may vote differently, depending upon the nature and objective of the fund, the composition of its portfolio, and other factors.

The guidelines do not permit the Board to delegate voting responsibility to a third party that does not serve as a fiduciary for the funds. Because many factors bear on each decision, the guidelines incorporate factors the Committee should consider in each voting decision. A fund may refrain from voting some or all of its shares if doing so would be in the fund’s and its shareholders’ best interests. These circumstances may arise, for example, if the expected cost of voting exceeds the expected benefits of voting, if exercising the vote would result in the imposition of trading or other restrictions, or if a fund (or all Vanguard-advised funds in the aggregate) were to own more than a maximum percentage of a company’s stock (as determined by the company’s governing documents).

In evaluating proxy proposals, we consider information from many sources, including but not limited to the investment advisor for the fund, the management or shareholders of a company presenting a proposal, and independent proxy research services. We will give substantial weight to the recommendations of the company’s board, absent guidelines or other specific facts that would support a vote against management. In all cases, however, the ultimate decision rests with the members of the Proxy Oversight Committee, who are accountable to the fund’s Board.

While serving as a framework, the following guidelines cannot contemplate all possible proposals with which a fund may be presented. In the absence of a specific guideline for a particular proposal (e.g., in the case of a transactional issue or contested proxy), the Committee will evaluate the issue and cast the fund’s vote in a manner that, in the Committee’s view, will maximize the value of the fund’s investment, subject to the individual circumstances of the fund.

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I.     

The Board of Directors

A.     

Election of directors

Good governance starts with a majority-independent board, whose key committees are made up entirely of independent directors. As such, companies should attest to the independence of directors who serve on the Compensation, Nominating, and Audit committees. In any instance in which a director is not categorically independent, the basis for the independence determination should be clearly explained in the proxy statement.

Although the funds will generally support the board’s nominees, the following factors will be taken into account in determining each fund’s vote:

Factors For Approval Factors Against Approval
Nominated slate results in board made up of a majority of Nominated slate results in board made up of a majority of
independent directors. non-independent directors.
All members of Audit, Nominating, and Compensation Audit, Nominating, and/or Compensation committees include
committees are independent of management. non-independent members.
  Incumbent board member failed to attend at least 75% of meetings
  in the previous year.
  Actions of committee(s) on which nominee serves are inconsistent with
  other guidelines (e.g., excessive option grants, substantial non-audit fees,
  lack of board independence).

 

B. Contested director elections

In the case of contested board elections, we will evaluate the nominees’ qualifications, the performance of the incumbent board, and the rationale behind the dissidents’ campaign, to determine the outcome that we believe will maximize shareholder value.

C. Classified boards

The funds will generally support proposals to declassify existing boards (whether proposed by management or shareholders), and will block efforts by companies to adopt classified board structures in which only part of the board is elected each year.

II. Approval of Independent Auditors

The relationship between the company and its auditors should be limited primarily to the audit, although it may include certain closely related activities that do not, in the aggregate, raise any appearance of impaired independence. The funds will generally support management’s recommendation for the ratification of the auditor, except in instances in which audit and audit-related fees make up less than 50% of the total fees paid by the company to the audit firm. We will evaluate on a case-by-case basis instances in which the audit firm has a substantial non-audit relationship with the company (regardless of its size relative to the audit fee) to determine whether independence has been compromised.

III.     

Compensation Issues

A.     

Stock-based compensation plans

Appropriately designed stock-based compensation plans, administered by an independent committee of the board and approved by shareholders, can be an effective way to align the interests of long-term shareholders with the interests of management, employees, and directors. The funds oppose plans that substantially dilute their ownership interest in the company, provide participants with excessive awards, or have inherently objectionable structural features.

An independent compensation committee should have significant latitude to deliver varied compensation to motivate the company’s employees. However, we will evaluate compensation proposals in the context of several factors (a company’s industry, market capitalization, competitors for talent, etc.) to determine whether a particular plan or proposal balances the perspectives of employees and the company’s other shareholders. We will evaluate each proposal on a case-by-case basis, taking all material facts and circumstances into account.

The following factors will be among those considered in evaluating these proposals:

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Factors For Approval Factors Against Approval
Company requires senior executives to hold a minimum amount Total potential dilution (including all stock-based plans) exceeds 15% of
of company stock (frequently expressed as a multiple of salary). shares outstanding.
Company requires stock acquired through option exercise to be Annual option grants have exceeded 2% of shares outstanding.
held for a certain period of time.  
Compensation program includes performance-vesting awards, Plan permits repricing or replacement of options without
indexed options, or other performance-linked grants. shareholder approval.
Concentration of option grants to senior executives is limited Plan provides for the issuance of reload options.
(indicating that the plan is very broad-based).  
Stock-based compensation is clearly used as a substitute for Plan contains automatic share replenishment (evergreen) feature.
cash in delivering market-competitive total pay.  

 

B. Bonus plans

Bonus plans, which must be periodically submitted for shareholder approval to qualify for deductibility under Section 162(m) of the IRC, should have clearly defined performance criteria and maximum awards expressed in dollars. Bonus plans with awards that are excessive, in both absolute terms and relative to a comparative group, generally will not be supported.

C. Employee stock purchase plans

The funds will generally support the use of employee stock purchase plans to increase company stock ownership by employees, provided that shares purchased under the plan are acquired for no less than 85% of their market value and that shares reserved under the plan amount to less than 5% of the outstanding shares.

D. Executive severance agreements (golden parachutes)

Although executives’ incentives for continued employment should be more significant than severance benefits, there are instances—particularly in the event of a change in control—in which severance arrangements may be appropriate. Severance benefits triggered by a change in control that do not exceed three times an executive’s salary and bonus may generally be approved by the compensation committee of the board without submission to shareholders. Any such arrangement under which the beneficiary receives more than three times salary and bonus—or where severance is guaranteed absent a change in control—should be submitted for shareholder approval.

IV. Corporate Structure and Shareholder Rights

The exercise of shareholder rights, in proportion to economic ownership, is a fundamental privilege of stock ownership that should not be unnecessarily limited. Such limits may be placed on shareholders’ ability to act by corporate charter or by-law provisions, or by the adoption of certain takeover provisions. In general, the market for corporate control should be allowed to function without undue interference from these artificial barriers.

The funds’ positions on a number of the most commonly presented issues in this area are as follows:

A. Shareholder rights plans (poison pills)

A company’s adoption of a so-called poison pill effectively limits a potential acquirer’s ability to buy a controlling interest without the approval of the target’s board of directors. Such a plan, in conjunction with other takeover defenses, may serve to entrench incumbent management and directors. However, in other cases, a poison pill may force a suitor to negotiate with the board and result in the payment of a higher acquisition premium.

In general, shareholders should be afforded the opportunity to approve shareholder rights plans within a year of their adoption. This provides the board with the ability to put a poison pill in place for legitimate defensive purposes, subject to subsequent approval by shareholders. In evaluating the approval of proposed shareholder rights plans, we will consider the following factors:

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Factors For Approval Factors Against Approval
Plan is relatively short-term (3-5 years). Plan is long term (>5 years).
Plan requires shareholder approval for renewal. Renewal of plan is automatic or does not require shareholder approval.
Plan incorporates review by a committee of independent Ownership trigger is less than 15%.
directors at least every three years (so-called TIDE provisions).  
Plan includes permitted-bid/qualified-offer feature (chewable Classified board.
pill) that mandates a shareholder vote in certain situations.  
Ownership trigger is reasonable (15-20%). Board with limited independence.
Highly independent, non-classified board.  

 

B. Cumulative voting

The funds are generally opposed to cumulative voting under the premise that it allows shareholders a voice in director elections that is disproportionate to their economic investment in the corporation.

C. Supermajority vote requirements

The funds support shareholders’ ability to approve or reject matters presented for a vote based on a simple majority. Accordingly, the funds will support proposals to remove supermajority requirements and oppose proposals to impose them.

D. Right to call meetings and act by written consent

The funds support shareholders’ right to call special meetings of the board (for good cause and with ample representation) and to act by written consent. The funds will generally vote for proposals to grant these rights to shareholders and against proposals to abridge them.

E. Confidential voting

The integrity of the voting process is enhanced substantially when shareholders (both institutions and individuals) can vote without fear of coercion or retribution based on their votes. As such, the funds support proposals to provide confidential voting.

F. Dual classes of stock

We are opposed to dual class capitalization structures that provide disparate voting rights to different groups of shareholders with similar economic investments. We will oppose the creation of separate classes with different voting rights and will support the dissolution of such classes.

V. Corporate and Social Policy Issues

Proposals in this category, initiated primarily by shareholders, typically request that the company disclose or amend certain business practices. The Board generally believes that these are “ordinary business matters” that are primarily the responsibility of management and should be evaluated and approved solely by the corporation’s board of directors. Often, proposals may address concerns with which the Board philosophically agrees, but absent a compelling economic impact on shareholder value (e.g., proposals to require expensing of stock options), the funds will typically abstain from voting on these proposals. This reflects the belief that regardless of our philosophical perspective on the issue, these decisions should be the province of company management unless they have a significant, tangible impact on the value of a fund’s investment and management is not responsive to the matter.

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VI. Voting in Foreign Markets

Corporate governance standards, disclosure requirements, and voting mechanics vary greatly among the markets outside the United States in which the funds may invest. Each fund’s votes will be used, where applicable, to advocate for improvements in governance and disclosure by each fund’s portfolio companies. We will evaluate issues presented to shareholders for each fund’s foreign holdings in the context with the guidelines described above, as well as local market standards and best practices. The funds will cast their votes in a manner believed to be philosophically consistent with these guidelines, while taking into account differing practices by market. In addition, there may be instances in which the funds elect not to vote, as described below.

Many foreign markets require that securities be “blocked” or reregistered to vote at a company’s meeting. Absent an issue of compelling economic importance, we will generally not subject the fund to the loss of liquidity imposed by these requirements.

The costs of voting (e.g., custodian fees, vote agency fees) in foreign markets may be substantially higher than for U.S. holdings. As such, the fund may limit its voting on foreign holdings in instances in which the issues presented are unlikely to have a material impact on shareholder value.

VII. Voting Shares of a Company that has an Ownership Limitation

Certain companies have provisions in their governing documents that restrict stock ownership in excess of a specified limit. The ownership limit may be applied at the individual fund level or across all Vanguard-advised funds. Typically, these ownership restrictions are included in the governing documents of real estate investment trusts, but may be included in other companies’ governing documents.

A company’s governing documents normally allow the company to grant a waiver of these ownership limits, which would allow a fund (or all Vanguard-advised funds) to exceed the stated ownership limit. Sometimes a company will grant a waiver without restriction. From time to time, a company may grant a waiver only if a fund (or funds) agrees to not vote the company’s shares in excess of the normal specified limit. In such a circumstance, a fund may refrain from voting shares if owning the shares beyond the company’s specified limit is in the best interests of the fund and its shareholders.

VIII. Voting on a Fund’s Holdings of Other Vanguard Funds

Certain Vanguard funds (owner funds) may, from time to time, own shares of other Vanguard funds (underlying funds). If an underlying fund submits a matter to a vote of its shareholders, votes for and against such matters on behalf of the owner funds will be cast in the same proportion as the votes of the other shareholders in the underlying fund.

IX. The Proxy Voting Group

The Board has delegated the day-to-day operations of the funds’ proxy voting process to the Proxy Voting Group, which the Committee oversees. Although most votes will be determined, subject to the individual circumstances of each fund, by reference to the guidelines as separately adopted by each of the funds, there may be circumstances when the Proxy Voting Group will refer proxy issues to the Committee for consideration. In addition, at any time, the Board has the authority to vote proxies, when, at the Board’s or the Committee’s discretion, such action is warranted.

The Proxy Voting Group performs the following functions: (1) managing proxy voting vendors; (2) reconciling share positions; (3) analyzing proxy proposals using factors described in the guidelines; (4) determining and addressing potential or actual conflicts of interest that may be presented by a particular proxy; and (5) voting proxies. The Proxy Voting Group also prepares periodic and special reports to the Board, and any proposed amendments to the procedures and guidelines.

X. The Proxy Oversight Committee

The Board, including a majority of the independent trustees, appoints the members of the Committee who are senior officers of Vanguard, a majority of whom are also officers of each Vanguard fund.

The Committee does not include anyone whose primary duties include external client relationship management or sales. This clear separation between the proxy voting and client relationship functions is intended to eliminate any potential conflict of interest in the proxy voting process. In the unlikely event that a member of the Committee believes he or she

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might have a conflict of interest regarding a proxy vote, that member must recuse himself or herself from the committee meeting at which the matter is addressed, and not participate in the voting decision.

The Committee works with the Proxy Voting Group to provide reports and other guidance to the Board regarding proxy voting by the funds. The Committee has an obligation to conduct its meetings and exercise its decision-making authority subject to the fiduciary standards of good faith, fairness, and Vanguard’s Code of Ethics. The Committee shall authorize proxy votes that the Committee determines, at its sole discretion, to be in the best interests of each fund’s shareholders. In determining how to apply the guidelines to a particular factual situation, the Committee may not take into account any interest that would conflict with the interest of fund shareholders in maximizing the value of their investments.

The Board may review these procedures and guidelines and modify them from time to time. The procedures and guidelines are available on Vanguard’s website at vanguard.com.

You may obtain a free copy of a report that details how the funds voted the proxies relating to the portfolio securities held by the funds for the prior 12-month period ended June 30 by logging on to Vanguard’s internet site, at vanguard.com, or the SEC’s website at sec.gov.

INFORMATION ABOUT THE ETF SHARE CLASS

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund and Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund offer and issue an exchange-traded class of shares called ETF Shares. Each Fund issues and redeems ETF Shares in large blocks, known as “Creation Units.” To purchase or redeem a Creation Unit, you must be an Authorized Participant or you must transact through a broker that is an Authorized Participant. An Authorized Participant is a participant in the Depository Trust Company (DTC) that has executed a Participant Agreement with Vanguard Marketing Corporation, the Funds’ Distributor (the Distributor). For a current list of Authorized Participants, contact the Distributor.

Investors that are not Authorized Participants must hold ETF Shares in a brokerage account. As with any stock traded on an exchange through a broker, purchases and sales of ETF Shares will be subject to usual and customary brokerage commissions.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund issues Creation Units in kind in exchange for a basket of securities that are part of—or soon to be part of—its target index (Deposit Securities). The Fund also redeems Creation Units in kind; an investor who tenders a Creation Unit will receive, as redemption proceeds, a basket of securities that are part of the Fund’s portfolio holdings (Redemption Securities). As part of any creation or redemption transaction, the investor will either pay or receive some cash in addition to the securities, as described more fully on the following pages. Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund reserves the right to issue Creation Units for cash, rather than in kind.

Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund publishes a list of Deposit Securities but does not issue Creation Units in exchange for such securities. Rather, the Fund issues Creation Units in exchange for cash in an amount equal to the value of those Deposit Securities as of the Fund’s pricing time, plus or minus some additional cash as described more fully on the following pages. Similarly, the Fund redeems Creation Units in cash, not in kind.

Exchange Listing and Trading

The ETF Shares have been approved for listing on a national securities exchange and will trade on the exchange at market prices that may differ from net asset value (NAV). There can be no assurance that, in the future, ETF Shares will continue to meet all of the exchange’s listing requirements. The exchange may, but is not required to, delist a Fund’s ETF Shares if (1) following the initial 12-month period beginning upon the commencement of trading, there are fewer than 50 beneficial owners of the ETF Shares for 30 or more consecutive trading days; (2) the value of the target index tracked by the Fund is no longer calculated or available; or (3) such other event shall occur or condition exist that, in the opinion of the exchange, makes further dealings on the exchange inadvisable. The exchange will also delist a Fund’s ETF Shares upon termination of the ETF Share class.

The exchange disseminates through the facilities of the Consolidated Tape Association an updated “indicative optimized portfolio value” (IOPV) for each Fund as calculated by an information provider. The Funds are not involved with or responsible for the calculation or dissemination of the IOPVs, and they make no warranty as to the accuracy of the IOPVs. An IOPV for each Fund’s ETF Shares is disseminated every 15 seconds during regular exchange trading hours. An

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IOPV has a securities value component and a cash component. The securities values included in an IOPV are based on the real-time market prices of the Deposit Securities for a Fund’s ETF Shares. The IOPV is designed as an estimate of a Fund’s NAV at a particular point in time, but it is only an estimate and it should not be viewed as the actual NAV, which is calculated once each day.

BOOK ENTRY ONLY SYSTEM

ETF Shares issued by the Funds are registered in the name of the DTC or its nominee, Cede & Co., and are deposited with, or on behalf of, the DTC. The DTC is a limited-purpose trust company that was created to hold securities of its participants (DTC Participants) and to facilitate the clearance and settlement of transactions among them through electronic book-entry changes in their accounts, thereby eliminating the need for physical movement of securities certificates. DTC Participants include securities brokers and dealers, banks, trust companies, clearing corporations, and certain other organizations. The DTC is a subsidiary of the Depository Trust and Clearing Corporation (DTCC), which is owned by certain participants of the DTCC’s subsidiaries, including the DTC. Access to the DTC system is also available to others such as banks, brokers, dealers, and trust companies that clear through or maintain a custodial relationship with a DTC Participant, either directly or indirectly (Indirect Participants).

Beneficial ownership of ETF Shares is limited to DTC Participants, Indirect Participants, and persons holding interests through DTC Participants and Indirect Participants. Ownership of beneficial interests in ETF Shares (owners of such beneficial interests are referred to herein as Beneficial Owners) is shown on, and the transfer of ownership is effected only through, records maintained by the DTC (with respect to DTC Participants) and on the records of DTC Participants (with respect to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners that are not DTC Participants). Beneficial Owners will receive from, or through, the DTC Participant a written confirmation relating to their purchase of ETF Shares.

Each Fund recognizes the DTC or its nominee as the record owner of all ETF Shares for all purposes. Beneficial Owners of ETF Shares are not entitled to have ETF Shares registered in their names, and will not receive or be entitled to physical delivery of share certificates. Each Beneficial Owner must rely on the procedures of the DTC and any DTC Participant and/or Indirect Participant through which such Beneficial Owner holds its interests, to exercise any rights of a holder of ETF Shares.

Conveyance of all notices, statements, and other communications to Beneficial Owners is effected as follows. The DTC will make available to each Fund, upon request and for a fee, a listing of the ETF Shares of the Fund held by each DTC Participant. The Fund shall obtain from each DTC Participant the number of Beneficial Owners holding ETF Shares, directly or indirectly, through the DTC Participant. The Fund shall provide each DTC Participant with copies of such notice, statement, or other communication, in form, number, and at such place as the DTC Participant may reasonably request, in order that these communications may be transmitted by the DTC Participant, directly or indirectly, to the Beneficial Owners. In addition, the Fund shall pay to each DTC Participant a fair and reasonable amount as reimbursement for the expenses attendant to this transmittal, subject to applicable statutory and regulatory requirements.

Share distributions shall be made to the DTC or its nominee as the registered holder of all ETF Shares. The DTC or its nominee, upon receipt of any such distributions, shall immediately credit the DTC Participants’ accounts with payments in amounts proportionate to their respective beneficial interests in ETF Shares of the appropriate Fund as shown on the records of the DTC or its nominee. Payments by DTC Participants to Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners of ETF Shares held through such DTC Participants will be governed by standing instructions and customary practices, as is now the case with securities held for the accounts of customers in bearer form or registered in a “street name,” and will be the responsibility of such DTC Participants.

The Funds have no responsibility or liability for any aspects of the records relating to or notices to Beneficial Owners; or payments made on account of beneficial ownership interests in such ETF Shares; or for maintaining, supervising, or reviewing any records relating to such beneficial ownership interests; or for any other aspect of the relationship between the DTC and DTC Participants or the relationship between such DTC Participants and the Indirect Participants and Beneficial Owners owning through such DTC Participants.

The DTC may determine to discontinue providing its service with respect to ETF Shares at any time by giving reasonable notice to the Funds and discharging its responsibilities with respect thereto under applicable law. Under such circumstances, the Funds shall take action either to find a replacement for the DTC to perform its functions at a comparable cost or, if such replacement is unavailable, to issue and deliver printed certificates representing ownership of ETF Shares, unless the Funds make other arrangements with respect thereto satisfactory to the exchange.

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PURCHASE AND ISSUANCE OF ETF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS

The Funds issue and sell ETF Shares only in Creation Units on a continuous basis through the Distributor, without a sales load, at their NAV next determined after receipt, on any Business Day, of an order in proper form. The Funds do not issue fractional Creation Units.

A Business Day is any day on which the NYSE is open for business. As of the date of this Statement of Additional Information, the NYSE observes the following holidays: New Year’s Day, Martin Luther King, Jr. Day, Presidents’ Day (Washington’s Birthday); Good Friday; Memorial Day (observed), Independence Day, Labor Day, Thanksgiving Day, and Christmas Day.

Fund Deposit

The consideration for purchase of a Creation Unit from an ETF Fund generally consists of the in-kind deposit of a designated portfolio of fixed income securities (Deposit Securities) and an amount of cash (Cash Component) consisting of a Purchase Balancing Amount and a Transaction Fee (both described in the following paragraphs). Together, the Deposit Securities, and the Cash Component constitute the Fund Deposit.

The Purchase Balancing Amount is an amount of cash equal to the difference between the NAV of a Creation Unit and the market value of the Deposit Securities (Deposit Amount). It ensures that the NAV of a Fund Deposit (not including the Transaction Fee) is identical to the NAV of the Creation Unit it is used to purchase. If the Purchase Balancing Amount is a positive number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit exceeds the market value of the Deposit Securities), then that amount will be paid by the purchaser to the Fund in cash. If the Purchase Balancing Amount is a negative number (i.e., the NAV per Creation Unit is less than the market value of the Deposit Securities), then that amount will be paid by the Fund to the purchaser in cash (except as offset by the Transaction Fee).

Vanguard, through the National Securities Clearing Corporation (NSCC), makes available after the close of each Business Day a list of the names and the number of shares of each Deposit Security to be included in the next Business Day’s Fund Deposit for each Fund (subject to possible amendment or correction). Each Fund reserves the right to accept a nonconforming Fund Deposit.

The identity and number of shares of the Deposit Securities required for a Fund Deposit may change from one day to another to reflect rebalancing adjustments, corporate actions, and interest payments on underlying bonds, or to respond to adjustments to the weighting or composition of the component securities of the relevant target index.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund reserves the right to permit or require the substitution of an amount of cash—referred to as “cash in lieu”—to be added to the Cash Component to replace any Deposit Security. This might occur for example, if a Deposit Security is not available in sufficient quantity for delivery, or is not eligible for trading by an Authorized Participant or the investor for which an Authorized Participant is acting. Trading costs incurred by the Fund in connection with the purchase of Deposit Securities with cash-in lieu amounts will be an expense of the Fund. However, Vanguard may adjust the Transaction Fee to protect existing shareholders from this expense.

All questions as to the number of shares of each security in the Deposit Securities and the validity, form, eligibility, and acceptance for deposit of any securities to be delivered shall be determined by the appropriate Fund, and the Fund’s determination shall be final and binding.

Procedures For Purchasing Creation Units

To initiate a purchase order for a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant must submit an order in proper form to the Distributor and such order must be received by the Distributor prior to the closing time of regular trading on the NYSE Closing Time (ordinarily 4 p.m., Eastern time) to receive that day’s NAV. The date on which an order to purchase (or redeem) Creation Units is placed is referred to as the Transmittal Date. Authorized Participants must transmit orders using a transmission method acceptable to the Distributor pursuant to procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement.

The Distributor shall inform the Fund’s custodian of the order. The custodian will then inform the appropriate foreign subcustodians. Each subcustodian shall maintain an account into which the Authorized Participant shall deliver, on behalf of itself or the party on whose behalf it is acting, the relevant Deposit Securities (or the cash value of all or part of such securities, in the case of a permitted or required cash purchase or cash-in-lieu amount), with any appropriate adjustments as advised by Vanguard. Deposit Securities must be delivered to an account maintained at the applicable local subcustodians.

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The Authorized Participant must also make available on or before the contractual settlement date, by means satisfactory to the Fund, immediately available or same-day funds estimated by the Fund to be sufficient to pay the Cash Component. Any excess funds will be returned following settlement of the issue of the Creation Unit.

Neither the Trust, the Funds, the Distributor, nor any affiliated party will be liable to an investor who is unable to submit a purchase order by Closing Time, even if the problem is the responsibility of one of those parties (e.g., the Distributor‘s phone or e-mail systems were not operating properly).

If you are not an Authorized Participant, you must place your purchase order in an acceptable form with an Authorized Participant. The Authorized Participant may request that you make certain representations or enter into agreements with respect to the order, e.g., to provide for payments of cash when required.

If a Fund Deposit is incomplete on the third Business Day after the trade date (the trade date, known as “T”, is the date on which a security trade actually takes place, three Business Days after the trade date is know as “T+3) because of the failed delivery of one or more of the Deposit Securities, the Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond Index Fund shall be entitled to cancel the purchase order.

An order to purchase Creation Units is deemed received on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Fund’s designated agent not later than Closing Time on such Transmittal Date, and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed.

Except as provided herein, a Creation Unit will not be issued until the transfer of good title to the Fund of the Deposit Securities, or, in the case of Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund, the cash value of the Deposit Securities, and the payment of the Cash Component have been completed. When each subcustodian has confirmed to the custodian that the required securities included in the Fund Deposit (if applicable) have been delivered to the account of the relevant subcustodian, and the Cash Component has been delivered to the custodian, the Distributor shall be notified of such delivery, and the Fund will issue and cause the delivery of the Creation Unit.

If a Fund Deposit is incomplete on the third Business Day after the trade date (the trade date, known as “T,” is the date on which a security trade actually takes place; three Business Days after the trade date is known as “T+3”), because of the failed delivery of one or more of the Deposit Securities, Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund shall be entitled to cancel the purchase order. Alternatively, the Fund may issue Creation Units in reliance on the Authorized Participant’s undertaking to deliver the missing Deposit Securities at a later date. Such undertaking shall be secured by the delivery and maintenance of cash collateral in an amount determined by the Fund in accordance with the terms of the Participant Agreement.

Rejection of Purchase Orders

Each Fund reserves the absolute right to reject a purchase order. By way of example, and not limitation, a Fund will reject a purchase order if:

  • the order is not in proper form;

  • the investor(s), upon obtaining the ETF Shares ordered, would own 80% or more of the total combined voting power and number of shares of all classes of stock issued by the Fund;

  • the Deposit Securities delivered are not the same (in name or amount) as the published basket;

  • acceptance of the Deposit Securities would have certain adverse tax consequences to the Fund;

  • acceptance of the Fund Deposit would, in the opinion of counsel, be unlawful;

  • acceptance of the Fund Deposit would otherwise, at the discretion of the ETF Fund or Vanguard, have an adverse effect on the Fund or any of its shareholders; or

  • circumstances outside the control of the Funds, the Trust, the transfer agent, the custodian, the subcustodian(s), the Distributor, and Vanguard make it for all practical purposes impossible to process the order. Examples of such circumstances include natural disasters, public service disruptions, or utility problems such as fires, floods, extreme weather conditions, and power outages resulting in telephone, telecopy, and computer failures; market conditions or activities causing trading halts; systems failures involving computer or other information systems affecting the aforementioned parties as well as the DTC, the NSCC, Federal Reserve, or any other participant in the purchase process; and similar extraordinary events.

If a purchase order is rejected, the Distributor shall notify the Authorized Participant. The Funds, the Trust, the transfer agent, the custodian, the subcustodian(s), and the Distributor are under no duty, however, to give notification of any

B-44


 

defects or irregularities in the delivery of a Fund Deposit, nor shall any of them incur any liability for the failure to give any such notification.

Transaction Fee on Purchases of Creation Units

Each Fund imposes a Transaction Fee (payable to the Fund) to compensate the Fund for costs associated with the issuance of Creation Units. When a Fund permits (or requires) a purchaser to substitute cash in lieu of depositing one or more Deposit Securities, the purchaser may be assessed an additional variable charge on the cash-in-lieu portion of its investment. The amount of this charge will vary as determined by the Fund at its sole discretion, but will not be more than is reasonably needed to compensate the Fund for the estimated transaction costs including, if applicable, the estimated market impact costs associated with purchasing the relevant Deposit Securities.

The Transaction Fees for purchases of Creation Units are listed in the following table. The Transaction Fees are subject to revision from time to time.

    Maximum Additional
  Transaction Fee Variable Charge for
Fund on Purchases Cash Purchases
 
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF $• 2.00%
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF 2.00%

 

REDEMPTION OF ETF SHARES IN CREATION UNITS

To be eligible to place a redemption order, you must be an Authorized Participant. Investors that are not Authorized Participants must make appropriate arrangements with an Authorized Participant in order to redeem a Creation Unit.

ETF Shares may be redeemed only in Creation Units. Investors should expect to incur transaction costs in connection with assembling a sufficient number of ETF Shares to constitute a redeemable Creation Unit. There can be no assurance, however, that there will be sufficient liquidity in the public trading market at any time to permit assembly of a Creation Unit. Redemption requests received on a Business Day in good order will receive the NAV next determined after the request is made.

Unless cash redemptions are available or specified for a Fund, an investor tendering a Creation Unit generally will receive redemption proceeds consisting of (1) a basket of Redemption Securities, or, in the case of Vanguard Total International Bond Index Fund, the cash value of the Redemption Securities, plus (2) a Redemption Balancing Amount in cash equal to the difference between (x) the NAV of the Creation Unit being redeemed, as next determined after receipt of a request in proper form, and (y) the value of the Redemption Securities; less (3) a Transaction Fee. If the Redemption Securities have a value greater than the NAV of a Creation Unit, the redeeming investor would pay the Redemption Balancing Amount in cash to the Fund, rather than receiving such amount from the Fund.

Vanguard, through the NSCC, makes available after the close of each Business Day a list of the names and the number of shares of each Redemption Security to be included in the next Business Day’s redemption basket for each Fund (subject to possible amendment or correction). The basket of Redemption Securities provided to an investor redeeming a Creation Unit may not be identical to the basket of Deposit Securities required of an investor purchasing a Creation Unit. If a Fund and a redeeming investor mutually agree, the Fund may provide the investor with a basket of Redemption Securities that differs from the composition of the redemption basket published through the NSCC.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Bond Index Fund reserves the right to deliver cash in lieu of any Redemption Security for the same reason it might accept cash in lieu of a Deposit Security, as previously discussed, or if the Fund could not lawfully deliver the security or could not do so without first registering such security under federal or state law.

Neither the Trust, the Funds, the Distributor, nor any affiliated party will be liable to an investor who is unable to submit a redemption order by Closing Time, even if the problem is the responsibility of one of those parties (e.g., the Distributor’s phone or e-mail systems were not operating properly).

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Transaction Fees on Redemptions of Creation Units

Each Fund imposes a Transaction Fee (payable to the Fund) to compensate the Fund for costs associated with the redemption of Creation Units.

When a Fund permits or requires a redeeming investor to receive cash in lieu of one or more Redemption Securities, the investor may be assessed an additional variable charge on the cash-in-lieu portion of its redemption. The amount of this charge will vary as determined by the Fund at its sole discretion, but will not be more than is reasonably needed to compensate the Fund for the estimated transaction costs, including, if applicable, the estimated market impact costs of selling portfolio securities to raise the necessary cash.

The Transaction Fees for redemptions are listed in the following table. The Transaction Fees are subject to revision from time to time.

    Maximum Additional
  Transaction Fee Variable Charge for
Fund on Purchases Cash Redemptions
 
Vanguard Total International Bond ETF $• 2.00%
Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF 2.00%

 

Placement of Redemption Orders

Requests to redeem Creation Units must be submitted to the Distributor by or through an Authorized Participant on a Business Day between the hours of 9 a.m. and 4 p.m., Eastern Time.

An order to redeem a Creation Unit is deemed received on the Transmittal Date if (1) such order is received by the Fund’s designated agent prior to Closing Time on such Transmittal Date; and (2) all other procedures set forth in the Participant Agreement are properly followed. If a redemption order in proper form is submitted to the designated agent by an Authorized Participant prior to Closing Time on the Transmittal Date, then the value of the Redemption Securities and the Cash Redemption Amount will be determined by the Fund on such Transmittal Date.

If on T+3 an Authorized Participant has failed to deliver all of the Vanguard ETF Shares it is seeking to redeem, the Fund shall be entitled to cancel the redemption order. Alternatively, the Fund may deliver to the Authorized Participant the full complement of Redemption Securities and cash in reliance on the Authorized Participant’s undertaking to deliver the missing ETF Shares at a later date. Such undertaking shall be secured by the Authorized Participant’s delivery and maintenance of cash collateral in accordance with collateral procedures that are part of the Participant Agreement. In all cases the Fund shall be entitled to charge the Authorized Participant for any costs (including investment losses, attorney's fees, and interest) incurred by the Fund as a result of the late delivery or failure to deliver.

Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond Index Fund reserves the right, at its sole discretion, to require or permit a redeeming investor to receive its redemption proceeds in cash. In such cases, the investor would receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of its ETF Shares based on the NAV of those shares next determined after the redemption request is received in proper form (minus a Transaction Fee, including a charge for cash redemptions, as previously discussed).

If an Authorized Participant, or a redeeming investor acting through an Authorized Participant, is subject to a legal restriction with respect to a particular security included in the basket of Redemption Securities, it may be paid an equivalent amount of cash in lieu of the security. In addition, each Fund reserves the right to redeem Creation Units partially for cash to the extent that the Fund could not lawfully deliver one or more Redemption Securities or could not do so without first registering such securities under federal or state law.

The Funds generally will deliver redemption proceeds (whether in kind or in cash) within three business days. Because of the schedule of holidays in certain countries, however, the delivery of in-kind redemption proceeds may take longer than three business days. For each Fund, Appendix A identifies the countries and dates where more than seven days would be needed to deliver redemption proceeds. The Fund will deliver redemption proceeds within the number of days stated in Appendix A.

In connection with taking delivery of shares of Redemption Securities upon redemption of a Creation Unit, an Authorized Participant, or a Beneficial Owner redeeming through an Authorized Participant, must maintain appropriate security arrangements with a qualified broker-dealer, bank, or other custody provider in each jurisdiction in which any of the Redemption Securities are customarily traded, to which account such Deposit Securities will be delivered.

If appropriate arrangements to take delivery of the Redemption Securities in the applicable foreign jurisdictions, as required in the preceding paragraph, are not in place, or if it is not possible to effect deliveries of the Redemption Securities in such jurisdictions, the Fund may at its discretion effect the redemption in cash. In such case, the investor

B-46


 


 

will receive a cash payment equal to the NAV of the redeemed shares, based on the NAV next calculated after receipt of the redemption request in proper form (minus a Transaction Fee and an additional variable charge for cash redemptions specified previously, to offset the Fund’s transaction costs associated with the disposition of Redemption Securities of the Fund).

Because the Redemption Securities of a Fund may trade on the relevant exchange(s) on days that the exchange is closed, stockholders may not be able to redeem their shares of the Fund, or to purchase or sell ETF Shares on the exchange, on days when the NAV of the Fund could be significantly affected by events in the relevant foreign markets.

Suspension of Redemption Rights

The right of redemption may be suspended or the date of payment postponed with respect to an ETF Fund (1) for any period during which the NYSE or listing exchange is closed (other than customary weekend and holiday closings); (2) for any period during which trading on the NYSE or listing exchange is suspended or restricted; (3) for any period during which an emergency exists as a result of which disposal of the Fund’s portfolio securities or determination of its NAV is not reasonably practical; or (4) in such other circumstances as the SEC permits.

Precautionary Notes

A precautionary note to retail investors: The DTC or its nominee will be the registered owner of all outstanding ETF Shares. Your ownership of ETF Shares will be shown on the records of the DTC and the DTC Participant broker through which you hold the shares. Vanguard will not have any record of your ownership. Your account information will be maintained by your broker, which will provide you with account statements, confirmations of your purchases and sales of ETF Shares, and tax information. Your broker also will be responsible for distributing income and capital gains distributions and for ensuring that you receive shareholder reports and other communications from the fund whose ETF Shares you own. You will receive other services (e.g., dividend reinvestment and average cost information) only if your broker offers these services.

A precautionary note to purchasers of Creation Units: You should be aware of certain legal risks unique to investors purchasing Creation Units directly from the issuing fund.

Because new ETF Shares may be issued on an ongoing basis, a “distribution” of ETF Shares could be occurring at any time. Certain activities that you perform as a dealer could, depending on the circumstances, result in your being deemed a participant in the distribution, in a manner that could render you a statutory underwriter and subject you to the prospectus delivery and liability provisions of the Securities Act of 1933. For example, you could be deemed a statutory underwriter if you purchase Creation Units from the issuing fund, break them down into the constituent ETF Shares, and sell those shares directly to customers, or if you choose to couple the creation of a supply of new ETF Shares with an active selling effort involving solicitation of secondary market demand for ETF Shares. Whether a person is an underwriter depends upon all of the facts and circumstances pertaining to that person’s activities, and the examples mentioned here should not be considered a complete description of all the activities that could cause you to be deemed an underwriter.

B-47


 

Dealers who are not “underwriters” but are participating in a distribution (as opposed to engaging in ordinary secondary-market transactions), and thus dealing with ETF Shares as part of an “unsold allotment” within the meaning of Section 4(3)(C) of the Securities Act, will be unable to take advantage of the prospectus delivery exemption provided by Section 4(3) of the Securities Act.

A precautionary note to shareholders redeeming Creation Units: An Authorized Participant that is not a “qualified institutional buyer” as defined in Rule 144A under the Securities Act of 1933 will not be able to receive, as part of the redemption basket, restricted securities eligible for resale under Rule 144A. (For this reason, Vanguard ETFs do not intend to include 144A securities in their redemption baskets.)

A precautionary note to investment companies: For purposes of the Investment Company Act of 1940, Vanguard ETF Shares are issued by registered investment companies, and the acquisition of such shares by other investment companies is subject to the restrictions of Section 12(d)(1) of that Act, except as permitted by an SEC exemptive order that allows registered investment companies to invest in the issuing funds beyond the limits of Section 12(d)(1), subject to certain terms and conditions.

APPENDIX A—ETF SHARES: FOREIGN MARKET INFORMATION

The security settlement cycles and local market holiday schedules in foreign countries, as well as unscheduled foreign market closings, may result in a Fund delivering redemption proceeds (either in kind or in cash) more than seven days after receipt of a redemption request in proper form. Listed as a part of this Appendix for each Fund are (a) the dates of market holidays in the countries in which the Fund invests; and (b) the dates on which, if a redemption request is submitted, the settlement period in a given country will exceed seven days. The proclamation of new holidays, the treatment by market participants of certain days as “informal holidays,” the elimination of existing holidays, or changes in local securities delivery practices could affect the information set forth herein at some time in the future.

Vanguard Total International Bond ETF Shares

Regular Holidays. For each country in which Vanguard Total International Bond ETF invests, the calendar year 2012 market holidays are as follows: (to be included with 485(b) filing):

Australia

Austria

Belgium

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Bermuda

Brazil

Bulgaria

Canada

Chile

China

Croatia

B-49


 

Cyprus

Czech Republic

Denmark

Estonia

Finland

France

Germany

Greece

B-50


 

Hong Kong

Hungary

India

Ireland

Israel

Italy

Japan

B-51


 

Jersey ChanIsle

Latvia

Lithuania

Luxembourg

Malaysia

Malta

Mexico

B-52


 

Morocco

Netherlands

New Zealand

Norway

Philippines

Poland

Portugal

B-53


 

Romania

Russia

South Africa

South Korea

Saudi Arabia

Singapore

Slovakia

B-54


 

Slovenia

Spain

Supranational

Sweden

Switzerland

Taiwan

Thailand

B-55


 

Tunisia

United Arab Emirates

United Kingdom

Redemption. For each country in which Vanguard Total International Bond Fund ETF invests, a redemption request submitted on the following dates in calendar year 2012 will result in a settlement period that exceeds seven calendar days.

Australia    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Austria    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Belgium    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Bermuda    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

B-56


 

Brazil    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Canada    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

China    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Czech Republic    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Denmark    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Finland    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

France    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Greece    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

B-57


 

Hong Kong    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Hungary    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Ireland    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Italy    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Japan    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Luxembourg    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Malaysia    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Mexico    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

B-58


 

Morocco    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Netherlands    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

New Zealand    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Norway    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Philippines    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Portugal    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

South Africa    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

B-59


 

South Korea    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Spain    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Sweden    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Switzerland    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Taiwan    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Thailand    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

United Kingdom    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

In 2012, the maximum number of calendar days necessary to satisfy a redemption request for Total International Bond Fund ETF would be ten days.

B-60


 

Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares

Regular Holidays. For each country in which Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF invests, the calendar year 2012 market holidays are as follows: (to be included with 485(b) filing):

Argentina

Belarus

Belize

Brazil

Bulgaria

Colombia

B-61


 

Croatia

Dominican Republic

Ecuador

Egypt

El Salvador

Gabon

Georgia

B-62


 

Ghana

Hungary

Indonesia

Ivory Coast

Jamaica

Jordan

Lebanon

B-63


 

Lithuania

Mexico

Nigeria

Pakistan

Panama

Peru

Philippines

B-64


 

Russia

South Africa

Senegal

Serbia

Sri Lanka

Turkey

Ukraine

B-65


 

Uruguay

Venezuela

Vietnam

Redemption. For each country in which Vanguard Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF invests, a redemption request submitted on the following dates in calendar year 2012 will result in a settlement period that exceeds seven calendar days.

Argentina

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

Brazil

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

Colombia

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

B-66


 

Hungary

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

Mexico

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

Pakistan

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

Peru

Redemption Date

Redemption Settlement Date

Settlement Period

Philippines    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

South Africa    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

Turkey    
Redemption Date Redemption Settlement Date Settlement Period

 

B-67


 

In 20xx, the maximum number of calendar days necessary to satisfy a redemption request for Emerging Markets Government Bond ETF Shares would be xx calendar days.

Note: Securities in the following markets are traded/held through Euroclear, and with regards to Jersey Channel Isle, they are traded/held through CREST:

  • Belarus

  • Belize

  • Dominican Republic

  • El Salvadore

  • Gabon

  • Georgia

  • Jamaica

  • Panama

  • Supranational

FINANCIAL STATEMENTS

Each Fund commenced operations on •, 2012 and therefore, no Financial Statements are not available.

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DESCRIPTION OF BOND RATINGS

The following are excerpts from Moody’s Investors Service, Inc.’s description of its four highest bond ratings:

Aaa—Judged to be of the best quality. They carry the smallest degree of investment risk.

Aa—Judged to be of high quality by all standards. Together with the Aaa group they make up what are generally known as high-grade bonds.

A—Possess many favorable investment attributes and are to be considered as “upper-medium-grade obligations.”

Baa—Considered as medium-grade obligations (i.e., they are neither highly protected nor poorly secured). Interest payments and principal security appear adequate for the present but certain protective elements may be lacking or may be characteristically unreliable over any great length of time. Such bonds lack outstanding investment characteristics and, in fact, have speculative characteristics as well.

Moody’s also supplies numerical indicators (1, 2, and 3) to rating categories. The modifier 1 indicates that the security is in the higher end of its rating category; the modifier 2 indicates a mid-range ranking; and the modifier 3 indicates a ranking toward the lower end of the category.

The following are excerpts from Standard & Poor’s description of its four highest bond ratings:

AAA—Highest grade obligations. The capacity to pay interest and repay principal is extremely strong.

AA—Also qualify as high-grade obligations. They have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal, and they differ from AAA issues only in small degree.

A—Regarded as upper-medium-grade. They have a strong capacity to pay interest and repay principal although they are somewhat more susceptible to the adverse effects of changes in circumstances and economic conditions than debt in higher rated categories.

BBB—Regarded as having an adequate capacity to pay interest and repay principal. Whereas they normally exhibit adequate protection parameters, adverse economic conditions or changing circumstances are more likely to lead to a weakened capacity to pay interest and repay principal for debt in this category than in higher rated categories. This group is the lowest that qualifies for commercial bank investment.

Standard & Poor’s applies indicators “+”, or “–”, or no character, to its rating categories. The indicators show relative standing within the major rating categories.

FTSE®” and “FTSE4Good ™” are trademarks jointly owned by the London Stock Exchange plc and The Financial Times Limited and are used by FTSE International Limited under license. “GEIS” and “All-World” are trademarks of FTSE International Limited. The FTSE4Good US Select Index, FTSE Global Equity Index Series (GEIS), FTSE All-World ex US Index, FTSE All-World Index, FTSE High Dividend Yield Index, and FTSE Global Small Cap ex US Index are calculated by FTSE International Limited. FTSE International Limited does not sponsor, endorse, or promote the fund; is not in any way connected to it; and does not accept any liability in relation to its issue, operation, and trading. Russell is a trademark of The Frank Russell Company. Standard & Poor’s®, S&P ®, S&P 500®, Standard & Poor’s 500, and 500 are trademarks of The McGraw-Hill Companies, Inc., and have been licensed for use by The Vanguard Group, Inc. Vanguard mutual funds are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Standard & Poor’s, and Standard & Poor’s makes no representation regarding the advisability of investing in the funds. Vanguard ETFs are not sponsored, endorsed, sold, or promoted by Barclays Capital. Barclays Capital makes no representation or warranty, express or implied, to the owners of Vanguard ETFs or any member of the public regarding the advisability of investing in securities generally or in Vanguard ETFs particularly or the ability of the Barclays Capital Index to track general bond market performance. Barclays Capital hereby expressly disclaims all warranties of merchantability and fitness for a particular purpose with respect to the Barclays Capital Index and any data included therein. Barclays Capital’s only relationship to Vanguard and Vanguard ETFs is the licensing of the Barclays Capital Index which is determined, composed, and calculated by Barclays Capital without regard to Vanguard or the Vanguard ETFs. Barclays Capital is not responsible for and has not participated in the determination of the timing of, prices of, or quantities of Vanguard ETFs to be issued. CFA® and Chartered Financial Analyst ® are trademarks owned by CFA Institute.

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PART C

VANGUARD CHARLOTTE FUNDS

OTHER INFORMATION

Item 28. Exhibits

(a)      Agreement and Declaration of Trust, is filed herewith.
(b)      By-Laws, are filed herewith.
(c)      Instruments Defining Rights of Security Holders, reference is made to Articles III and V of the Registrant’s Agreement and Declaration of Trust, refer to Exhibit (a) above.
(d)      Investment Advisory Contract, The Vanguard Group, Inc., provides investment advisory services to the Funds at cost pursuant to the Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement, refer to Exhibit (h) below.
(e)      Underwriting Contracts, not applicable.
(f)      Bonus or Profit Sharing Contracts, reference is made to the section entitled “Management of the Funds” in Part B of this Registration Statement.
(g)      Custodian Agreement, for Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., to be filed by amendment.
(h)      Other Material Contracts, Fifth Amended and Restated Funds’ Service Agreement, to be filed by Amendment. Form of Authorized Participant Agreement, is filed herewith.
(i)      Legal Opinion, to be filed by Amendment.
(j)      Other Opinions, not applicable.
(k)      Omitted Financial Statements, not applicable.
(l)      Initial Capital Agreement, is filed herewith.
(m)      Rule 12(b)-1 Plan, not applicable.
(n)      Rule 18f-3 Plan, to be filed by Amendment.
(o)      Reserved.
(p)      Code of Ethics, for The Vanguard Group, Inc., is filed herewith.

Item 29. Persons Controlled by or under Common Control with Registrant

Registrant is not controlled by or under common control with any person.

Item 30. Indemnification

The Registrant’s organizational documents contain provisions indemnifying Trustees and officers against liability incurred in their official capacity. Article VII, Section 2 of the Agreement and Declaration of Trust provides that the Registrant may indemnify and hold harmless each and every Trustee and officer from and against any and all claims, demands, costs, losses, expenses, and damages whatsoever arising out of or related to the performance of his or her duties as a Trustee or officer. Article VI of the By-Laws generally provides that the Registrant shall indemnify its Trustees and officers from any liability arising out of their past or present service in that capacity. Among other things, this provision excludes any liability arising by reason of willful misfeasance, bad faith, gross negligence, or the reckless disregard of the duties involved in the conduct of the Trustee’s or officer’s office with the Registrant.

Item 31. Business and Other Connections of Investment Adviser

The Vanguard Group, Inc. (Vanguard) is an investment adviser registered under the Investment Advisers Act of 1940, as amended (the Advisers Act). The list required by this Item 31 of officers and directors of Vanguard, together with any information as to any business, profession, vocation, or employment of a substantial nature engaged in by such officers and directors during the past two years, is incorporated herein by reference from Form ADV filed by Vanguard pursuant to the Advisers Act (SEC File No. 801-11953).

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Item 32. Principal Underwriters

a)Vanguard Marketing Corporation, a wholly-owned subsidiary of The Vanguard Group, Inc., is the principal underwriter of each fund within the Vanguard group of investment companies, a family of more than 170 mutual funds.

(b)The principal business address of each named director and officer of Vanguard Marketing Corporation is 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355.

Name Positions and Office with Underwriter Positions and Office with Funds
R. Gregory Barton Director and Senior Vice President None
Mortimer J. Buckley Director and Senior Vice President None
Martha G. King Director and Senior Vice President None
F. William McNabb III Chairman and Director Chairman and Chief Executive Officer
Michael S. Miller Director and Managing Director None
Glenn W. Reed Director None
George U. Sauter Director and Senior Vice President None
Heidi Stam Director and Senior Vice President Secretary
Richard D. Carpenter Treasurer None
David L. Cermak Principal None
Joseph Colaizzo Financial and Operations Principal None
Salvatore L. Pantalone Financial and Operations Principal and Assistant None
  Treasurer  
Michael L. Kimmel Secretary None
John C. Heywood Principal None
Jack T. Wagner Assistant Treasurer None
Jennifer M. Halliday Assistant Treasurer None
Nakia P. Thomas Assistant Secretary None
Joseph F. Miele Registered Municipal Securities Principal None
Jane K. Myer Principal None
Pauline C. Scalvino Chief Compliance Officer Chief Compliance Officer
Paul Atkins Assistant Treasurer None
Timothy P. Holmes Principal None
Colin M. Kelton Principal None

 

(c)      Not applicable

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Item 33. Location of Accounts and Records

The books, accounts, and other documents required to be maintained by Section 31 (a) of the Investment Company Act and the rules promulgated thereunder will be maintained at the offices of the Registrant; the Registrant’s Transfer Agent, The Vanguard Group, Inc., 100 Vanguard Boulevard, Malvern, PA 19355; and the Registrant’s Custodian, Brown Brothers Harriman & Co., 40 Water Street, Boston, MA 02109.

Item 34. Management Services

Other than as set forth in the section entitled “Management of the Funds” in Part B of this Registration Statement, the Registrant is not a party to any management-related service contract.

Item 35. Undertakings

Not Applicable.

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SIGNATURES

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933 and the Investment Company Act of 1940, the Registrant hereby certifies that it has duly caused this Registration Statement to be signed on its behalf by the undersigned, thereunto duly authorized, in the Town of Valley Forge and the Commonwealth of Pennsylvania, on the 31st day of October, 2011.

VANGUARD INTERNATIONAL EQUITY FUNDS

BY:___________/s/ F. William McNabb III*

F. William McNabb III
Chairman and Chief Executive Officer

Pursuant to the requirements of the Securities Act of 1933, this Post-Effective Amendment to the Registration Statement has been signed below by the following persons in the capacities and on the date indicated:

Signature Title Date
 
/s/ F. William McNabb III* Chairman and Chief Executive October 31, 2011
  Officer  
F. William McNabb III    
/s/ Emerson U. Fullwood* Trustee October 31, 2011
Emerson U. Fullwood    
/s/ Rajiv L. Gupta* Trustee October 31, 2011
Rajiv L. Gupta    
/s/ Amy Gutmann* Trustee October 31, 2011
Amy Gutmann    
/s/ JoAnn Heffernan Heisen* Trustee October 31, 2011
JoAnn Heffernan Heisen    
/s/ F. Joseph Loughrey* Trustee October 31, 2011
F. Joseph Loughrey    
/s/ André F. Perold* Trustee October 31, 2011
André F. Perold    
/s/ Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.* Trustee October 31, 2011
Alfred M. Rankin, Jr.    
/s/ J. Lawrence Wilson* Trustee October 31, 2011
J. Lawrence Wilson    
/s/ Thomas J. Higgins* Chief Financial Officer October 31, 2011
Thomas J. Higgins    

 

*By: /s/ Heidi Stam

Heidi Stam, pursuant to a Power of Attorney filed on April 26, 2010, see File Number 33-53683, Incorporated by Reference.

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INDEX TO EXHIBITS  
Agreement and Declaration of Trust Ex-99. A
By-Laws, Ex-99. B
Other Material Contracts, Authorized Participant Agreement, Ex-99. H
Initial Capital Agreement Ex.-99.I
Code of Ethics, The Vanguard Group, Inc Ex-99. P

 

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